Braun Cleared to Play as Lakers Face Nuggets in Denver

DENVER, Colorado — Los Angeles Lakers forward Christian Braun has been cleared to participate in Friday’s game against the Denver Nuggets after being listed on the injury report with left foot inflammation. The ailment will not sideline him for the matchup set for 6:30 p.m. PT at Ball Arena.

Braun, who has started every game for the Lakers over the past 18 contests, has made significant contributions with an average of 17.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.2 steals over 36.3 minutes per game in that stretch. This consistency is crucial for a Lakers team grappling with significant player absences.

Los Angeles will enter the game missing several key players, including LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, and Jaxson Hayes. Most notably, Luka Doncic of the Nuggets will also be sidelined due to calf and ankle injuries. The Lakers will also likely be without Gabe Vincent and Dorian Finney-Smith, who are both dealing with knee and ankle management issues, respectively. Trey Jemison is listed as questionable with an illness.

“It’s going to be all about the next man up,” Lakers head coach JJ Redick said. “We’re going to need everyone to dig deep and contribute tonight.”

Austin Reaves is expected to take on a central role in the team’s offense. He thrived in a similar situation previously, scoring 45 points in a victory over the Indiana Pacers when James and Doncic were absent. However, Redick stressed that Reaves won’t be able to carry the team alone.

“We need others to step up. Dalton Knecht showed flashes this season and could be the breakout player we need tonight. We’ll give him the freedom to shoot,” Redick explained.

Alongside Knecht, Jordan Goodwin and Shake Milton have been producing offensively, while players like Markieff Morris and Cam Reddish could provide unexpected contributions that would greatly benefit the Lakers.

Defensively, the Lakers face a daunting challenge in trying to contain Nuggets’ superstar Nikola Jokic. Redick emphasized the importance of limiting the impact of Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. to secure a potential victory.

“Our previous game plan against Jokic was effective, but with so many players missing, we cannot expect the same results,” he added. “We’ll need to find a way to keep the score low and disrupt their rhythm.”

The projected Lakers lineup features Reaves at point guard, Goodwin at shooting guard, Knecht at small forward, Jarred Vanderbilt at power forward, and Alex Len at center. Key reserves include Milton, Morris, Christian Koloko, Reddish, and Bronny James.

The Nuggets, looking to bounce back from a recent home loss, are projected to start Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, and Nikola Jokic.

This matchup promises to be a test of resilience for the Lakers as they work to navigate their depleted roster against a motivated Nuggets team.