Christian Braun is making it hard to remember last season’s struggles.
Through five games, the Nuggets wing looks far closer to the player Denver expected, and maybe even a step beyond that. His biggest statement came in the Nuggets’ 127-120 win over the Phoenix Suns, where Braun poured in a career-high 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting and knocked down a career-best seven 3-pointers.
That shooting display was the loudest part of the night, but it wasn’t the only encouraging sign. Braun never looked shy about letting it fly, and each make seemed to feed the next one.
He had already hit three threes in the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans in the previous game, and that confidence clearly carried over against Phoenix. If that outside shot keeps falling, Braun has a real chance to become an elite role player this season.
There’s also a strong case that Braun is already back to his 2024-25 level. After the Suns game, he’s averaging 15.4 points per game, which matches his scoring average from last season.
He’s also shooting 40% from three, nearly identical to the 39.7% he posted in 2024-25, while taking even more attempts from deep at 6 per game. The work he put in on his jumper this summer could end up paying off in a big way.
The other part of Braun’s game that has popped early is the burst. Last season, he looked a step slow and struggled to push off his injured ankle, which led plenty of people to say he had lost his “explosion.”
That doesn’t look like the same player anymore. He’s back to getting downhill for layups and dunks, and the quickness is showing up on both ends.
Defensively, Braun has been just as impressive. He’s averaging 2.4 steals per game through five contests after picking up three against the Suns, and he’s been active hounding opponents on the perimeter. He also helped hold two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to 17 points in the Nuggets’ season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder, marking the first time in 141 games that SGA failed to score at least 20.
If Braun keeps hitting threes, mixing in mid-range jumpers and staying disruptive on defense, the Nuggets may have the breakout they’ve been waiting for.
In Other News...
Nuggets Hot Shooting Is Hiding An Early Offensive Concern
The Nuggets got a welcome jolt from the perimeter in their recent win over the Suns, with Jamal Murray and Christian Braun both catching fire from deep and helping turn a sluggish offensive start into something far more familiar. It was the kind of night that can make a team look as if it has found its rhythm again, especially when the shots are falling and the ball is moving with purpose.
But the bigger issue is still lurking underneath the hot shooting. Denver has not been finishing nearly enough possessions around the rim, and through five games the paint scoring has lagged well behind where it usually sits for a team built around Nikola Jokic. Even with the outside shot carrying more of the load, the Nuggets know they will need more consistent production in the lane if they want the offense to look like itself over the long haul. [Read more 🡒]
Nuggets Already Have A Backup Guard Problem They Can't Ignore
The Nuggets early bench look has already put a spotlight on one of the trickier rotation questions around the backcourt. Tyus Jones was brought in to steady second-unit minutes, but his role has been limited so far, and the pairing with DeMar DeRozan has not given Denver the kind of two-way lift it needs when the starters sit. DeRozans defense has been a concern, as expected, and the overall fit has left the Nuggets searching for a better answer.
What makes the issue more pressing is how much the team is leaning on Jamal Murray to carry the load in the meantime. Denver is already exploring other ways to handle backup point guard minutes, which suggests the current setup is not something it can simply ride out. For a team with real postseason ambitions, getting that reserve guard spot right may end up mattering a lot more than it did on paper. [Read more 🡒]
Jamal Murray Delivered The Kind Of Night Denver Needed Right Now
The Nuggets finally got the kind of lift they had been waiting for in NBA Cup play, beating the Suns 127-120 for their first tournament win of the season and pushing themselves above .500 for the first time this year. Jamal Murray led the charge with 39 points, giving Denver the sort of high-end shotmaking it needed in a game that carried a little extra edge and a little extra urgency.
Christian Braun also played a major role in the win with a breakout scoring night, helping Denver keep pace when the Suns tried to make it uncomfortable. The game had its flashpoint, too, when Dillon Brooks was ejected after an intentional kickout that was reviewed by officials, a moment that only added to the tension before the Nuggets closed things out. [Read more 🡒]