Much like the Denver Nuggets as a team, Christian Braun has had an up and down season. He began the season incredibly well and was the Nuggets’ 2nd most consistent player behind Nikola Jokic in October and November. Then he lost his three-point shot in December, but has bounced back, recently setting the NBA season-high in fast break points for a game with 18.
In the month of December, Braun has shot just 18.5% from beyond the arc, which is in stark contrast to the 51.4% from deep that he shot in November. It was evident on Monday night against the Utah Jazz that he was going to make his impact on the game in transition. From the first minutes of the game, Braun was sprinting down the court and making plays.
By the end of the first quarter of the game, the former Kansas Jayhawk had already contributed 6 points in transition, two off of quick outlets following rebounds and one off of a Nikola Jokic steal. He added another fast break layup in the 2nd quarter and three more transition buckets in the third, bringing his fast break points up to 16.
Finally in the 4th quarter, Braun recorded his 17th and 18th fast break points off of his own steal and slam with 5:22 left to go in the game. If not for a Collin Sexton fast break foul, Braun would have netted his 19th and 20th fast break points with 16 seconds left in the game, before an eventual 132-121 Nuggets victory.
This wonderful fast break outburst should not come as a surprise for Denver... They've been elite at it all season
While Braun did break the previous NBA season high of 15 fast break points by a player in a single game with his 18 points in transition, this was not a one-man performance in getting the ball down the court. The Nuggets have been getting out and running all season long, thanks to the addition of Russell Westbrook and increased minutes for Braun and Peyton Watson.
Denver currently leads the entire league in team fast break points per game at 19.5. Houston comes in at 2nd with 18.4 per game and the only other team with 18+ transition points per match. On Monday night against the Jazz, the Nuggets obliterated their average as well, recording a whopping 34 fast break points as a team.
Braun now ranks 2nd in the NBA in fast break points per game from an individual player standpoint as well. He trails only the fast break monster himself, Giannis Antetokounmpo who records 6.2 fast break points a game (compared to Braun’s 5.2 per game).
Braun finished the game with 20 points on 9/12 shooting, but fast breaker cannot be complete without his passers. Special shout out to Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Russell Westbrook, who all recorded 10+ assists against Utah (the first time that three teammates have each recorded 10+ assists in the same game since 1922).