The Oklahoma City Thunder achieved an impressive feat during the 2025 NBA season, securing 68 wins and navigating through the playoffs with a 16-8 record. The defending champions faced stiff competition, notably in the championship series against the Indiana Pacers, which pushed them to the limit. Notably, prior to facing the Pacers, the Denver Nuggets managed to challenge the Thunder in a grueling seven-game series.
Peyton Watson emerged as a pivotal player for the Nuggets, showcasing his potential as a vital asset in terms of depth, scoring, athleticism, and defense on the wings. During the 2024-25 season, he posted notable averages of 8.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 0.7 steals per game, with shooting percentages of .477 from the field, .353 from three-point range, and .693 from the free-throw line. Despite his improvements during the regular season, Watson faced challenges in the playoffs, where he logged only 14.2 minutes per game; this highlighted the Nuggets’ lack of depth at critical moments.
Entering the current season, Watson has shown significant development in various aspects of his game. His scoring volume and efficiency have both seen improvements, reflecting a newfound confidence that has allowed him to be more aggressive on both offense and defense. This transformation was catalyzed when Christian Braun sustained an ankle injury, creating an opportunity for Watson to step up and embrace his role.
Watson’s initial games without Braun reaffirmed some struggles on offense, but a breakthrough performance came when he tallied an impressive 32 points along with 12 rebounds, three assists, and a steal in a victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Since that game, he has scored at least 10 points in eight of his last ten outings, with two standout games where he exceeded 20 points. This contrasts sharply with his performance last season, where he only recorded one 20-point game throughout 68 appearances.
His surge has been complemented by key additions to the roster, such as Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Jonas Valanciunas, enhancing the Nuggets’ dynamics. The team needed a younger, athletic player to help revamp their rotation, and Watson has fulfilled that need by confidently taking shots and leveraging his 6’8″ frame for defensive prowess.
Currently, Watson boasts a 41.1 percent shooting success rate on catch-and-shoot three-pointers, and he has begun to demonstrate his potential as a defensive stopper. His defensive matchups have included prominent players like Pascal Siakam, Kevin Durant, and DeMar DeRozan, with these stars shooting a combined 18-of-43 when facing Watson.
If Watson can maintain his trajectory as a two-way player, coupled with the health of Braun and Aaron Gordon, the Nuggets could see their fortunes change. This would enhance the prospects for superstar duo Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, as they aim to lead their team to victory over the formidable Thunder in future matchups.
