Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun played a central role in the team's 120-101 victory over the LA Clippers Saturday, a performance that marked a shift from his experience in the previous season's playoffs. Braun guarded Clippers star James Harden for much of the elimination game, limiting him to seven points.
Braun's defensive effort drew praise from teammates. Nuggets center Nikola Jokic described Braun's defense as "annoying." Guard Russell Westbrook, who previously played with Harden on three teams, shared advice with Braun on guarding the veteran scorer throughout the series. Westbrook noted that Braun wore on Harden and made the game difficult for him.
This extended playing time and defensive assignment represented a change for Braun. In Game 7 the previous year against the Minnesota Timberwolves, he played just under 20 minutes in a loss. Braun referenced that disappointment, stating he wanted to play more minutes in that contest.
Against the Clippers, Braun played 38 minutes. He also contributed offensively, scoring 21 points, second most on the team behind Aaron Gordon's 22. Braun made 8 of 15 shots, including 3 of 5 from the three-point line. His outside shooting had been inconsistent earlier in the series.
Acting head coach David Adelman mentioned Braun gained momentum with late three-pointers in Game 6. Jokic said he encouraged Braun to keep shooting despite previous misses, noting his confidence improved in Game 7.
In addition to scoring and defense, Braun recorded five rebounds and four assists. The win secured the Nuggets' advancement to the Western Conference semifinals against Oklahoma City.
Braun, a former University of Kansas standout, has seen his playing time increase in his third NBA season. He finished fourth in Most Improved Player voting, receiving nine first-place votes. His performance in the series against the Clippers, where he averaged 12.6 points and played 39 minutes per game, contrasted with his average of 17 minutes and 5.1 points in two playoff series last year.
Jokic characterized Braun as a "winner" who handles the less noticeable aspects of the game.
Regarding his performance compared to the prior season's Game 7 exit, Braun said, "This is the exact moment I wanted... I felt like I wanted to be part of it. I wanted to be out there more... I got exactly what I wanted tonight."
