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Christian Braun · Behind on the scoreboards for 39 of a possible 53 minutes before claiming victory, the Denver Nuggets, by evening’s end, had specialized in the art of taking the Toronto Raptors for unexpected rides. Crafty in taking Chris Boucher through one of the evening’s many rollercoasters, Christian Braun uses first physics and momentum to his advantage, nearly disorienting the Toronto Raptors’ big with a smoothly-executed double crossover move. Officially in rhythm with the rim in sight, Braun — not missing a beat upon recognizing Gradey Dick’s efforts to help — gathers through the red sea for a high-arcing finish. Braun’s late-game ambition helped kickstart a most-unlikely comeback that saw Denver down double-figures in the final two minutes, ultimately spurring the first of two heart rate-rising victories over Toronto. A soon-to-be-staple in the double-digit scoring column in the weeks thereafter, Braun offered 17 points (on 6-of-11) on October 28, 2024, alongside a four-rebound, two-assist, one-steal, one-block, one-triple complement. · State of Mint