Christian Braun scores 22 as Nuggets rout short-handed 76ers 124-96

DENVER (AP) — Christian Braun had 22 points, Nikola Jokic finished with 14 assists, and the Denver Nuggets routed the injury-plagued Philadelphia 76ers 124-96 on Tuesday night.

Denver kept pace with Minnesota, which beat Phoenix on Tuesday night, in a tight Western Conference race. There are 1 1/2 games separating the third-place Los Angeles Lakers and the Timberwolves in sixth.

Philadelphia played without Joel Embiid (right oblique strain), Tyrese Maxey (sprained finger) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (left elbow strain). Paul George is serving a 25-game suspension.

The sold-out crowd booed Embiid when he came to the bench for the first time in the third quarter. Embiid has missed the last six Sixers games in Denver, denying Nuggets fans an MVP matchup between the Philadelphia big man and Jokic.

Jokic scored eight points on 4 of 7 shooting but reached 10 assists in less than 12 minutes. He picked up two quick fouls and a technical in the first quarter after dishing out eight assists.

Cameron Johnson scored 18 points and Jamal Murray finished with 12 points after shooting 1 of 14 at the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night. Murray missed his final 13 shots before fouling out in the overtime loss.

Denver was missing its starting five when the teams met in Philadelphia on Jan. 5 but pulled out an overtime win against a healthy Sixers team.

The Nuggets didn’t suffer the same fate as Philadelphia on Tuesday night. They never trailed, jumping out to a 16-point lead after the first quarter and 71-38 on Braun’s two free throws with play with 1:39 left in the second quarter.

Denver held the Sixers to 40 points in the first half, the fewest it has allowed, and never let them back into the game.

76ers: Continue their three-game road trip at Sacramento on Thursday night.

Nuggets: At the Grizzlies on Wednesday night.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Philadelphia 76ers guard Vj Edgecombe, front, drives past Denver Nuggets guard Tim Hardaway Jr. in the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Philadelphia 76ers forward Adem Bona drives between Denver Nuggets forward Cameron Johnson, back, and guard Christian Braun, front, to dunk the ball for a basket in the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, left, looks to drive to the net as Philadelphia 76ers guard Vj Edgecombe defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Philadelphia 76ers forward Trendon Watford argues after he was called for a foul in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, left, looks to pass the ball as Philadelphia 76ers forwards Adem Bona and Dominick Barlow, right, defend in the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR driver Daniel Dye was suspended Tuesday — the second known major penalty of his racing career — for mocking IndyCar driver David Malukas during a recent livestream.

In the video, which circulated Tuesday on social media, Dye used voices that made inferences about Malukas' sexuality. He mimicked Malukas' voice at one point.

Dye is a Truck Series driver for Kaulig Racing, which also suspended him. NASCAR ordered Dye to undergo sensitivity training.

Dye apologized to Malukas in a social media post, calling his comments “careless.”

“I chose my words poorly and I understand why it upset people,” he wrote. “I'm sorry to anyone who was offended. That's now I want to represent myself.

“I have some close friends in the LBGT+ community who would never want to feel less of themselves because of what I said, and that's exactly why I should hold myself to a higher standard.”

He said conversations with those friends made him recognize that “a true friend would know better than to act the way I did.”

Malukas, a 24-year-old driver for Team Penske, often posts pictures on social media with a girlfriend.

This is the second time Dye has been suspended.

He was 18 and racing in the ARCA series when he was arrested at a Dayona Beach, Florida, high school and charged with felony battery for approaching a classmate and punching the student in the groin area.

The victim was treated at a hospital for a potential ruptured testicle.

Dye said it was a game and he'd be exonerated.

He was instead indefinitely suspended by ARCA, which is owned by NASCAR. Dye was reinstated when the charge was reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor.

Dye in his third full season of racing in the Truck Series. He moved to Kaulig Racing this year to drive for Ram in the automaker's return to NASCAR competition. Through three races, his best finish is 13th at Atlanta.

Dye raced at St. Petersburg, Florida, in the Truck Series when NASCAR partnered its third-tier series with IndyCar's season opener. Malukas made his Team Penske debut that same weekend.

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

FILE - Driver Daniel Dye (43) is seen during qualifying for the NASCAR Weather Guard Truck Series, March 16, 2024, in Bristol, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne, File)