Nuggets star Jamal Murray has been ruled out for Saturday night’s game against the Jazz with a concussion. While the news is a big blow for Denver, it does open up more opportunity for some lesser-known guards to step up in Murray’s absence.
Analysis
Many bettors might look towards offseason acquisition Russell Westbrook to handle a bigger workload. However, the former MVP has gotten off to a rough start in Denver, shooting an atrocious 24.4% from the field. Fellow backup guard Julian Strawther could find himself in the starting lineup tonight, but the Gonzaga alum has only been tasked with 18.8 minutes per game so far. It’s unlikely head coach Mike Malone will give the second-year pro a drastic jump in court time tonight.
Instead, the savvy play might be Christian Braun. While the former Kansas Jayhawk has been a valuable role player since entering the league in 2022, he’s a different player this season. Having been thrust into the starting lineup since opening night, Braun is averaging 14.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists over five games.
The third-year veteran is still the clear fourth option on Saturday, as Nikola Jokic, Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon should all demand more touches. Still, there’s not many other players that can handle the ball for Denver. Outside of Strawther and Westbrook, the only other healthy guards on the roster are Trey Alexander, a rookie, and Jalen Pickett, who has averaged just 4.4 minutes over 28 career games.
Given the options at his disposal, there’s no way Malone doesn’t play his only reliable guard for more than 30 minutes. With the ball in his hand for most of the night, Braun has a good chance at clearing this modest point total.
The Play:
Christian Braun over 11.5 points at -115
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