The Denver Nuggets walked into Monday night’s matchup against the Houston Rockets already dealing with a depleted roster. With Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun both sidelined due to injuries, Denver was leaning heavily on its next-man-up mentality. But things got even more complicated when Peyton Watson, who had stepped into a starting role, exited the game early with a right trunk contusion and was later listed as questionable to return.
Watson’s injury came during the first half, and by the time halftime rolled around, he hadn’t re-entered the game. In the six minutes he did play, he made his presence felt-scoring five points, recording a steal, and shooting 2-of-4 from the field, including 1-of-2 from beyond the arc. It was a short stint, but it reflected the kind of two-way energy he’s brought to the floor all season.
With Gordon and Braun out, Watson had been thrust into a more prominent role, and he was responding. Coming into Monday’s contest, he had logged 24 appearances this season, including 12 starts, averaging just under 27 minutes per game. That’s a significant workload increase, and he’s made the most of it.
Statistically, Watson is in the midst of a breakout campaign. He’s averaging career-highs nearly across the board: 10.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game.
He’s doing it efficiently, too-shooting 50.3% from the field, 38.8% from deep, and 71.4% from the line. Those aren’t just solid numbers; they’re the kind of stats that show a player growing into a reliable two-way contributor on a contending team.
Drafted 30th overall in 2022, Watson is now in his fourth season with the Nuggets. His development has been steady, and this year, he’s clearly taken a leap. His increased role isn’t just about filling in for injured starters-it’s a reflection of the trust he’s earned from the coaching staff and the impact he’s making on both ends of the floor.
If Watson’s injury proves to be more than a brief setback, it could test Denver’s depth even further. But if there’s one thing this Nuggets team has shown, it’s resilience. Still, losing a player who’s been stepping up in a big way this season would be a tough blow at a time when the margin for error is already razor-thin.