Nuggets’ Christian Braun Sidelined at Least Six Weeks with Left Ankle Sprain
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The Denver Nuggets will be without starting wing Christian Braun for a minimum of six weeks after he was diagnosed with a left ankle sprain, the club announced Friday.
ESPN’s Shams Charania first reported the injury, adding that Braun will be re-evaluated after the six-week window. The Nuggets confirmed the timetable in a subsequent press release.
Braun was hurt late in the first quarter of Wednesday’s road win over the Los Angeles Clippers. While pressuring James Harden near mid-court, the 24-year-old appeared to have his right foot stepped on before landing awkwardly on his left, immediately grabbing at the ankle in pain.
The setback interrupts Braun’s fourth NBA season and his first full year as a regular starter. Last season, the No. 21 pick in the 2022 draft averaged career highs across the board: 15.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.1 steals in 33.9 minutes per game, shooting 58 percent from the field and 39.7 percent from three in 79 appearances.
Through 10 healthy games this season, the Kansas product was contributing 11.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 30.8 minutes while shooting 48.4 percent overall and 21.4 percent from deep. He signed a five-year, $125 million rookie-scale extension on Oct. 20, the last day he was eligible.
Durability had been one of Braun’s strengths—he missed only nine games in his first three seasons—but Denver is scheduled to play 19 times during the upcoming six-week span.
In addition to Braun’s absence, starting forward Cameron Johnson (right biceps strain) has been ruled out for Saturday’s meeting with the Timberwolves, and two-time MVP Nikola Jokić is questionable with a left wrist sprain. With Braun sidelined, Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Julian Strawther are candidates for increased minutes, while Peyton Watson is expected to replace Johnson in the starting lineup.
Source: Hoops Rumors
