Peyton Watson out for at least a month with a hamstring injury
The Denver Nuggets (33-19) somehow survived Nikola Jokic’s months-long absence and maintained a top-three spot in the Western Conference standings, and Peyton Watson was a big reason why. The emergence of the fourth-year forward has made this team a legitimate threat to defend the Oklahoma City Thunder’s NBA title, giving Denver the depth it needs. Unfortunately, he will be forced to sit aside for a while.
Watson, who suffered a strained right hamstring in a 134-127 double overtime loss to the New York Knicks on Wednesday, miss at least a month shares, according to ClutchPoint’s Brett Siegel. The Nuggets have lost almost their entire core this season to extended injuries, but this one could sting more than people realize. Fans expect a three-time MVP like Jokic and a reliable contributor like Aaron Gordon to get back into the swing of things, but it can be worrisome when a young player suffers a setback in the middle of a campaign.
Denver and its fan base can only hope that all the hard work Watson has put into his game continues to pay off when he returns. The No. 30 overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft is averaging 14.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.0 steals in 49 games played. He first established himself as a strong defender, but evolved significantly in attack during the 2025-26 campaign.
Peyton Watson is shooting 49.6 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from 3-point range. He scored 30 points or more three times in January, all away games. The 23-year-old could be an X-factor during the playoffs, but he will have to go through this recovery period first.
Watson will watch the Nuggets try to snap a three-game losing streak against the Chicago Bulls (24-28) on Saturday.
2026-02-06 19:27:00
