Christian Braun continues to represent the Kansas basketball program excellently. The former Jayhawk came through in a big way Saturday night, helping lead the Denver Nuggets to the Western Conference Semifinals in a 120-101 Game 7 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Braun drew the start and finished second on the team in scoring, dropping 21 points on an efficient 8-for-15 shooting (3-for-5 from three). He chipped in five rebounds, four assists, and one steal. "CB" and Aaron Gordon were the only Nuggets to score 20+ points in a game where three-time MVP Nikola Jokić took a backseat in the scoring department.
Christian Braun was incredible in Denver's Game 7 win
Braun was a man on a mission all series long. In addition to his strong Game 7 performance, the KU product posted a 17-point, seven-rebound, five-assist stat line in the Nuggets' improbable Game 4 win in LA. Aaron Gordon's literal last-second putback dunk immediately flipped the momentum in Denver's favor, tying the series at two apiece.
Across the seven-game set, Braun averaged 12.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and shot 49.3% from the field. His 88 total points were far and away the most he has ever scored in a single playoff series.
Denver has a tough task ahead, with only one day of rest before traveling to Oklahoma City to take on the top-seeded Thunder. If facing a 68-win squad and MVP favorite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was not difficult enough, OKC has over a week of rest on its hands after sweeping the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round.
Braun joins former Jayhawks and current rookies Johnny Furphy (Indiana Pacers) and Kevin McCullar (New York Knicks) in the second round of the postseason. If Braun and his counterparts continue to play at this level, Denver could be looking at another run to the NBA Finals.