Peyton Watson
Coming into the season, there were absolutely title aspirations for the Denver Nuggets. If anybody was asked what they thought their current record would be to this point in the year given all the injuries, few would say 30-13.
But that is where they sit, despite MVP favorite Nikola Jokic missing over a month, while several other starters have also simultaneously been sidelined. The depth of this team, combined with the incredible job David Adelman has done cannot be commended enough.
Of course, most of this article will be spent talking about Peyton Watson, who had himself another insane performance on Thursday night in the win over Washington.
Watson, who averaged 3 PPG during college, has completely transformed his game since coming into the NBA. He has been the breakout star for the Nuggets from day one of this year.
Peyton Watson Remains On Heater
The expectations while Nikola Jokic missed games for Denver were probably not all that high. The fact that they have kept up the winning as they have just shows how much they want it. Nobody perhaps moreso than Peyton Watson, who is setting himself up for an incredible payday this summer.
Against the Wizards on Thursday night, he dropped a career-high 35 points. It’s not only the point total, but that he only needed 16 shots to get there. The forward hit 10 of 16 from the field, including going 6-8 from 3PT. Additionally, Watson knocked down nine of 10 shots at the charity stripe.
The value P Wat brings also goes well beyond the scoring. He grabbed eight rebounds, and dished out three assists. Add in two steals and four big blocks, and you have yourself a complete stat line. It’s not fully out of nowhere that he has played at such a high level, but few could have predicted that with so many players down, Watson would be the one coming in to raise his scoring like this.
Rumor has it that they are calling him Peyton Swatson in Denver now.
At 30-13, this is a team with all the makings of a contender, and one that will be ready to take the Oklahoma City Thunder head on come April/May.
Looking Ahead for the Denver Nuggets
The good news about the game against the Wizards last night for the Nuggets, is that they finally got Jonas Valanciuas back. The very game after they lost Nikola Jokic, they lost his replacement before the third quarter had even let out. Having a true center back out there gave them the size element they just have not had while they have been amassing all the victories.
Step by step, this team is beginning to get healthy. Peyton Watson probably won’t be scoring 30 points every night while they’re at full strength, but knowing he has the capacity will make guarding them a bit more difficult.
Denver will be playing the second half of a back-to-back set with the Milwaukee Bucks tonight. Following this one, weather pending, they’ll battle the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday afternoon. One of these teams is struggling to put up a fight, while the other remains extremely short-handed.
A good opportunity for the Nuggets to claim a few more wins and keep this train speeding down the track to its destination. What a squad to follow.