DENVER — The Nuggets have looked unshakeable through the season’s opening month. Nikola Jokić has launched another MVP chase, powering Denver to a 9-2 record and the second seed in the West. Their offense ranks second leaguewide, and their defense sits in that same elite tier. Yet the next six weeks will force a shift. The Nuggets are finally getting their first real test of the season, especially now that Christian Braun is expected to miss a good chunk of time.
Nuggets Set To Face First ‘Real’ Test Of The Season Without Christian Braun
Denver built its early surge on improved depth around Jokić. His game remains an orchestral masterpiece, illustrated by his recent 55-point eruption against the Clippers. The Nuggets expected offensive brilliance. They did not expect defensive dominance. Last season’s defense ranked in the bottom 10. This season, they resemble the 2023-24 unit that finished eighth. Braun deserves a large slice of that credit.
Braun’s Injury Reshapes the Defensive Identity
Braun has shouldered the toughest perimeter assignments every night. He carries the team’s second-best defensive rating, sitting only behind Aaron Gordon. His growth helped stabilize a roster that added only Bruce Brown as a true defensive stopper. But that structure now absorbs its first major blow. The Nuggets face a major test with Christian Braun’s injury after he suffered a left ankle sprain against the Clippers.
The sprain occurred when James Harden stepped on Braun’s right foot, forcing Braun to land awkwardly on his left. He briefly returned but moved gingerly and did not play in the second half. Tests revealed the sprain, and the team will reevaluate him in six weeks. Denver plays 17 games in that stretch. Those games form the one of the toughest defensive gauntlets of the Nuggets’ season.
A Brutal Offensive Stretch Ahead
Denver will see multiple top-10 offenses during Braun’s absence. Minnesota ranks among the league’s sharpest attacks despite Anthony Edwards missing time. Denver faces them twice during this 17-game run. Houston presents an even greater challenge. The Rockets own the league’s best offense after embracing a supersized identity built around Kevin Durant. Denver meets them twice as well.
Extending the window to 20 games—since reevaluation doesn’t guarantee return—brings Toronto and Cleveland into the mix. Both offenses sit in the top 10. Phoenix, Miami, San Antonio, and Charlotte also lurk just outside that range. All four can heat up quickly. Every matchup tests Denver’s ability to compensate for Braun’s absence.
With Christian Braun out, the Nuggets aren’t getting any breaks from the schedule. The next month will show us if their defensive jump is real.
A Quiet Opportunity Within the Pressure
There is, however, a silver lining. The injury forces Denver to explore its perimeter depth. Jamal Murray, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Brown all rank inside the top 50 in defensive rating, with Brown sitting just outside at 52. Each now carries a larger share of responsibility. If Denver survives this stretch without major defensive slippage, the team emerges stronger and more flexible.
The Nuggets face their first test with Christian Braun’s injury, but the challenge could sharpen their postseason readiness. Denver wanted adversity on its own terms. Now it arrives with perfect clarity. The next six weeks will reveal the resilience of a roster that has dominated early but must now show it can endure.
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