Almost nothing has slowed down the Denver Nuggets this season.
Now, Denver must show it can persevere despite injuries to key players.
The Nuggets learned Friday that they will be without forward Christian Braun for approximately six weeks because of a sprained left ankle. Denver will play its first game without Braun when it takes on the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night in Minneapolis.
Braun, 24, averages 11.4 points per game and shoots 49.5 percent from the field.
The Nuggets also ruled out Cameron Johnson (7.2 ppg) for Saturday’s game because of a right biceps strain. And their best player, Nikola Jokic, is listed as questionable due to a sprained left wrist.
The injury designation came as a surprise after Jokic scored 55 points Wednesday to help Denver record its sixth straight victory, 130-116 over the Los Angeles Clippers. He added 12 rebounds and six assists.
“I think I’ve seen it all,” Jokic said of the defensive assignments he faced. “I think it’s difficult. We really organize a lot of plays for me, all kinds of different plays.”
The Timberwolves face fewer injury concerns, but they will play on short rest against the Nuggets.
Minnesota, which has won four straight games, will play on its home court for the second time in as many nights after winning 124-110 against the Sacramento Kings on Friday.
Anthony Edwards scored 30 points to lead the Timberwolves. Julius Randle had 26 points and 11 rebounds, and Naz Reid also had a double-double coming off the bench finishing with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Jaden McDaniels will look to bounce back from a grueling game for the Timberwolves when they take on the Nuggets.
He left the field several times due to injuries on Friday but returned each time. He was inadvertently hit in the face by Reid on one play, was shot in the groin on another play, slipped and did the splits on a drive to the rim in the second half.
McDaniels kept his head down when a reporter asked him how he felt after the game.
“I just want to go home, to be honest,” McDaniels said.
His teammates were amazed by his tenacity.
“He’s a trooper,” Edwards said. “‘Many Men’ — have you all heard that 50 Cent song? It’s Jaden.”
McDaniels and his teammates won’t have much time to return to full strength against Denver.
The teams have already met once this season, with the Nuggets winning 127-114 in Minneapolis on October 27. Jokic notched a triple-double with 25 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists, and Jamal Murray dropped 43 points to keep Denver leading all scorers.
McDaniels scored a team-high 25 points for Minnesota in his first game against Denver. Randle added 24 points and Reid scored 18 off the bench.
The Timberwolves will be without second-year guard Terrence Shannon Jr. in Saturday’s game. The team announced Friday that he would be re-evaluated in about a week as he recovers from a bone bruise in his left foot.
–Field level media
