Nuggets’ Braun regrets mocking Gobert and pulling technique after dunk

MINNEAPOLIS – Denver Nuggets winger Christian Braun threw down a spectacular poster dunk over a four-time Defensive Player of the Year, but regretted the play as he left Target Center on Friday night.

Braun blamed himself for the celebration that led to a confrontation with Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert and said the double technical fouls stopped Denver’s momentum.

“I have to be more responsible,” Braun said after the Timberwolves overcame a 10-point deficit to hand the Nuggets a 119-116 loss. “That’s two points. Obviously those are the plays you want to make and those are the momentum plays I want to make, but when I get a technician, he throws the momentum his way, so I have to be able to control myself better.”

Braun drove down the middle of the lane, started just inside the dotted line and hit the ball in with both hands even though Gobert contested it with 5:14 left.

After he landed, Braun hunched his shoulders and took two large steps into Gobert’s chest. Gobert responded by wrapping his left arm around Braun’s neck and pushing him away. Players and staff from both teams as well as the officials prevented the confrontation from escalating.

“He had a great game and there’s always a little bit of adrenaline,” Gobert said. “He kind of walked towards my room and nothing really happened. But it’s part of the game. … I have nothing against Braun. I actually think he’s a very good player. He’s a good boy. But it’s a big victory for us.” . And the way we overcame adversity as a group tonight, I think, is the kind of win that makes us grow as a team.”

Denver went on an 11-0 run and appeared to take control of the game after Braun’s dunk, which extended the Nuggets’ lead to eight points. Denver led by 10 points with 3:36 left on Aaron Gordon’s faded jumper. But the Nuggets didn’t score a field goal the rest of the game as the Timberwolves recovered while Denver point guard Jamal Murray was in the locker room (concussion protocol).

“This loss is my fault,” Nuggets center Nikola Jokic said after the three-time MVP finished the game with 26 points, 9 rebounds and 13 assists. He noted that he missed both shots from the floor and had two turnovers in the last three minutes. “I have to involve the boys better. That was really bad for me.”

Timberwolves winger Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored two 3-pointers in Minnesota’s decisive comeback, scoring well that Braun said was due to his defensive errors.

“I have to get better,” said Braun, who finished with 14 points and 7 rebounds.

Gobert had two defensive stops, a rebound and two free throws in the final 13 seconds to seal the victory. He forced Jokic into a hard-fought 3-pointer in the final seconds, but it didn’t lead to the iron win. On the Nuggets’ previous possession, Gobert forced Braun to miss a hard floater.

“We’re never going to give up, and that’s the championship mentality we have to have,” said Gobert, who had 17 points, 14 rebounds and 2 blocks. “The best teams in this league are not always perfect, but they have no doubts. You never doubt. They know how to regroup, how to refocus and who they are when it matters most.”

Friday night’s game was a nationally televised matchup between rivals who have eliminated each other in the Western Conference playoffs the past two seasons.

Braun, who pressured Gobert twice during a meeting late last regular season, said his celebration after Friday’s climax could be seen as a sign of respect.

“The reason I’m so excited about this is because it’s the best rim protection in the NBA,” Braun said. “So it doesn’t happen often for him to play on the best rim protection in the NBA. He had a really good play against me down the stretch where I wasn’t strong enough. That’s what he does. He really is.” He’s good at that. That’s why he is who he is and that’s why he’s Defensive Player of the Year.

“I caught him once and he caught me too, so it’s just good, competitive juice. That’s what he’s supposed to do. This is what I am supposed to do and they have won the victory. So obviously Rudy gets the win today.”