Nuggets G Christian Braun pounded on Rudy Gobert so hard it almost started a fight

On By Littum

Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun (0) celebrates after making a shot while being fouled during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Christian Braun got the highlight, but the Nuggets didn’t get the win on Friday. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun dunked hard on Rudy Gobert, then celebrated in Rudy Gobert’s face. That led to some hard feelings in a rematch of a seven-game series from last year’s playoffs.

In the fourth quarter of the Nuggets’ game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday, Braun found a lane to the basket that took him right by the four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. That’s usually a recipe for offensive disaster, but Braun muscled his way through for a thunderous, two-handed dunk that drew audible gasps from the Target Center crowd.

Braun continued to celebrate by screaming and walking past the baseline, right into Gobert. The Frenchman took exception, laid hands on the 25-year-old guard and pushed him away.

Quick intervention by Timberwolves forward Jayden McDaniels and officials prevented the situation from escalating, but both Braun and Gobert were assessed technical fouls in the aftermath.

Gobert praised the dunk itself after the matchbut not Braun’s celebration:

“He dunked on me. It was unbelievable, but what happened after the dunk was what I didn’t like. But the dunk was great. It’s a part of the game, there’s a lot of adrenaline. I respect him, it was a nice dunk.”

It was a highlight for the Nuggets, who took a 10-point lead a minute later. That was the end of the good, however, as the Timberwolves went on to erase the 10 points in a span of four minutes in what ended up being a 119-116 Minnesota victory.

Gobert was instrumental in putting the Nuggets away, making both of his free throws with 10 seconds left and forcing reigning MVP Nikola Jokić into a tough 3-pointer to end the game.

Gobert finished the game with 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting with 14 rebounds, three assists and two blocks, while Braun had 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting with seven rebounds. Aaron Gordon led all scorers with 31 points, while Anthony Edwards had 29 points for the winners.