Nuggets guard Christian Braun appears to be on the verge of returning to action. He has been upgraded to questionable for Denver’s game in Detroit on Tuesday, as Vinny Benedetto of The Denver Gazette tweets.
A left ankle sprain has been a problem for Braun for much of the season. The 24-year-old initially injured the ankle on November 12 and returned on January 4, but suited up for just three games before heading back to the Nuggets’ injured list for several more weeks. He has been limited to just 14 total appearances in 2025/26.
Although Braun is trending toward returning either Tuesday or Wednesday, Denver’s starting lineup will still be far from whole. Cameron Johnson (right knee bone bruise) and Aaron Gordon (right hamstring strain) remain on the shelf for the team.
Here are several more injury updates from around the NBA:
- Rockets forward Kevin Durant missed his first game of the season on Sunday due to a left ankle sprain, but head coach Ime Udoka is hopeful the former MVP’s absence won’t extend beyond that contest, tweets Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star. Houston picked up a win in Indiana on Sunday with Reed Sheppard starting in place of Durant.
- Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson has been listed as doubtful for Tuesday’s matchup with Phoenix. While his season debut may not happen tonight, Henderson said on Sunday that he feels “amazing” and “ready” to play after missing Portland’s first 50 games this season due to a hamstring tear, per Joe Freeman of The Oregonian.
- Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama was initially listed as questionable on Sunday due to left calf soreness, while guard Stephon Castle missed the contest as a result of left adductor tightness, but neither ailment is viewed as serious, writes Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News (subscription required). “It’s just been something that’s been a little tight,” head coach Mitch Johnson said of Castle’s injury. “Don’t foresee it being anything major or long-term. The (back-to-back) circumstances we were coming out of only added to it. We felt like it was the best decision for him (to sit out one game).”
- Mavericks forward P.J. Washington has entered the NBA’s concussion protocol and will miss at least Tuesday’s game vs. Boston, tweets Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News. Washington will have to work his way through the protocol before being cleared to return to action.