Peyton

Watson

Due to a strained right hamstring, Watson has not appeared in a game since April 1. That will remain the case for Game 6, resulting in more minutes for fellow reserves Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown.

Watson has yet to play in a game this series, and that won’t change on Monday. With Aaron Gordon (calf) questionable, the Nuggets will continue to rely more on Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bruce Brown. Denver needs a win to extend the series, which Minnesota leads three games to one.

Watson will miss his third game of the series as he continues to deal with a hamstring injury. He averaged 14.6 points and 1.5 three-pointers per game during the regular season.

Watson’s 2025-26 postseason debut will have to wait at least one game longer, as the fourth-year guard is set to miss Monday’s second game. Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Spencer Jones should remain the primary wing options off the bench, as was the case in Denver’s Game 1 victory.

Watson missed 28 of Denver’s 82 regular-season games this season and will miss its first playoff game on Saturday. When healthy this season, the fourth-year wing took a major leap in production, averaging 14.6 points per game on 41.1 percent three-point shooting. The Nuggets will miss his two-way ability in Game 1; his status moving forward will be worth monitoring.

It’s a disappointing update for Watson and the Nuggets, but Denver has approached the season with a “next man up” mentality. Aaron Gordon could see more run with Watson out for the foreseeable future.

Gordon is back after missing Sunday’s win over the Warriors, and he’ll be in the starting lineup. His return means that Peyton Watson will come off the bench.

Gordon was a late addition to the injury report on Sunday and ended up missing their matchup with the Warriors. Peyton Watson got the starting nod, but he will likely head back to the bench with Gordon expected back.

With Aaron Gordon (calf) sidelined, Watson will start Sunday’s game. However, he will be restricted to 20 minutes, meaning there will also be time for Spencer Jones to make an impact off the bench.

A late addition to the Nuggets’ injury report, Gordon is now officially out. Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones are potential replacements, but the former will be restricted to 20 minutes. As a result, Jones may be the choice to start.