The Denver Nuggets took a 2-1 series lead in the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat with a 109-94 win, thanks in part to the impressive performance of rookie Christian Braun. Braun scored 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting, grabbed four rebounds, dished out an assist, and recorded a steal in just 19 minutes of playing time. His energy and aggressive play were credited with helping to secure the win by both Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray. Despite his impressive performance, Braun downplayed his own accomplishments and is focused on continuing to develop his game.
As seen in the coverage by Denver Gazette, the Denver Nuggets took a 2-1 series lead in the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat on Wednesday at Kaseya Center. The Nuggets’ victory was largely attributed to rookie Christian Braun’s impressive performance off the bench.
Braun’s first Finals game away from home was almost perfect. He finished with 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting from the field, with his only miss being a corner 3 that he rebounded. He also grabbed four rebounds, dished out an assist, and recorded a steal in his 19 minutes of playing time.
Nikola Jokic, who recorded the first stat line of its kind in the NBA Finals with 32 points, 21 rebounds, and 10 assists, credited Braun for the win that restored Denver’s home-court advantage. Jokic told Braun, “You won us the game,” in their postgame conversation.
Braun’s teammates also praised him for his performance. Aaron Gordon said, “That’s a rare rookie right there,” and Jamal Murray encouraged him to jump passing lanes when he got the chance, which led to Braun’s emphatic one-handed dunk in the final minute of the third quarter.
Despite his impressive performance, Braun downplayed his own accomplishments like a veteran. He has been consistently in the right place at the right time since Day 1, and his aggressive mistakes are still valuable contributions to the team.
Braun’s performance off the bench was a crucial factor in the Nuggets’ victory over the Heat in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. As he continues to develop his game and gain more confidence and trust from his teammates and coaching staff, he is sure to become a very solid player in the league.
