Who had Denver’s Christian Braun in the Dunk of the Year pool? Nobody?
Because after this dunk Friday night on the head of Rudy Gobert he has become the early-season leader in that mythical race.
CHRISTIAN BRAUN DETONATION😱😱😱
— NBA (@NBA) November 2, 2024
GET TO ESPN FOR THE FINISH! pic.twitter.com/Pe6fT12h7o
Braun yelled in Gobert’s face after the dunk, Gobert pushed back a little and both players were assessed a technical.
Christian Braun: "The reason I get so hyped up after that is, that's the best rim protector in the NBA. So making a play on the best rim protector in the NBA doesn't happen often. ... I got him once and he got me too. ... They got the win, so obviously Rudy gets the win today."
— Bennett Durando (@BennettDurando) November 2, 2024
Braun owned the technical postgame and admitted it may have slowed Denver’s momentum after the dunk, something the Nuggets never fully got back. They blew the 8-point lead that dunk gave them to lose 119-116. Here’s what he told Bennett Durando of the Denver Post.
“I’ve gotta be more responsible,” Braun said after posterizing Rudy Gobert and getting into a brief confrontation with the Timberwolves center, which resulted in matching technical fouls. "… I’ve got to do a better job of controlling myself.”
The worse news out of this game for Denver is that point guard Jamal Murray has been placed in concussion protocols after a blow from Anthony Edwards. It’s unclear how long Murray will be out.