Braun out at least 6 weeks with ankle sprain

Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun is expected to miss significant time after being diagnosed with a sprained left ankle, the team announced Friday.

He'll be re-evaluated in six weeks, the team added.

Braun appeared to hurt his ankle during a collision with James Harden in the first quarter of Wednesday's 130-116 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. He attempted to play through the pain but eventually removed himself from the game. The Nuggets then officially ruled him out at halftime.

The 24-year-old is averaging 11.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, and three assists across 11 starts in his fourth season. He's sat out just nine regular-season contests throughout his NBA career but could miss double that amount over the next six weeks, including the Nuggets' Christmas Day tilt versus the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Denver also lost its other starting wing, Cameron Johnson, on Wednesday after he left the game with a right arm strain in the first quarter.