2023 NBA Finals: What will it take for the Miami Heat to win it all?
USA TODAY Sports Jeff Zillgitt explains that yes the Miami Heat are facing an uphill battle heading into the NBA Finals against the talented Denver Nuggets. But don’t count them out.
Sports Pulse
MIAMI — Denver Nuggets rookie reserve Christian Braun had six points through the first two games of the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat.
He more than doubled his point production Wednesday.
He had 11 of his 15 points in Game 3 in the second half of Denver’s 109-94 victory, helping push the Nuggets to a 2-1 series lead.
“My job is just to be ready when my name is called,” Braun said. “Playing with Nikola (Jokic), playing with Jamal (Murray), whoever it is, just got to be ready for the ball, and today they found me in some pretty easy spots. … it’s the NBA Finals, so if your name is called, you know you’ve got to be ready.”
Braun, the No. 21 pick in the 2022 draft, had his best game of the playoffs, reaching double-figures in points in the postseason for the first time in his career. His previous high was nine points against Minnesota in the first round.
Braun entered Game 3 averaging 2.4 points in 11.8 minutes in the playoffs and played just under 24 minutes in the first two games of the Finals.
The Nuggets needed help off the bench and another scorer because Michael Porter Jr. is struggling to score against Miami. Braun delivered.
“I have to give Christian a lot of love,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “I felt his play was fantastic. Did not look like a rookie. Aggressive, strong, physical, confident, and his 15 and four (rebounds) off the bench in 19 minutes were very, very impactful.”
Braun had two strong stretches in the second half that helped Denver finish off Miami. He scored five consecutive points early in the fourth quarter, putting the Heat in a 93-72 hole, and he had six points in the final 2:37 of the third quarter, helping the Nuggets to an 82-68 lead headed into the final quarter.
Braun got his points cutting and driving to the rim, and two of them came on a dunk after he stole a pass.
“I could just feel the confidence kind of oozing out of him, the physical aggressive drives, making plays for guys against their zone,” Malone said. “It was really fun to watch a young man step up like the way Christian did tonight.”
Braun played college basketball at Kansas for three seasons and was a significant contributor to the Jayhawks’ 2022 championship team, collecting 12 points and 12 rebounds in the title game against North Carolina. He also played on three consecutive high school state championship teams at Blue Valley Northwest (Overland Park, Kansas) and was named the state’s Mr. Basketball in 2019.
He played 15.5 minutes and scored 4.7 points and grabbed 2.4 rebounds per game during the regular season, but benches get shorter in the playoffs and reserves don’t get as much playing time.
“Christian has proved himself all year long, and he was in the rotation end of season,” Malone said. “He’s been in the rotation throughout these 18 playoff games now, and if you look around, there’s not many rookies playing meaningful minutes in the NBA this time of year, and it speaks to Christian’s confidence. It speaks to him being a winner. He’s won at every level.”
Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt
