There were multiple reasons for fatigue in Peyton Watson\u2019s first game back.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was hard for me to sleep last night,\u201d the Nuggets\u2019 wing said after Denver\u2019s 128-112 win over Portland on Sunday at Ball Arena. \u201cI was just anticipating this day for a long time, obviously.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anticipation built up for roughly six weeks. Watson strained his left hamstring in Denver\u2019s Feb. 4 loss to the Knicks when he was playing the best basketball of his young career.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was super frustrating just having my progress impeded like that, especially with an injury like the hamstring just because I\u2019ve done it before, and I know that it takes some time,\u201d Watson said. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to work through it and really make sure you\u2019re back and ready to go. It was really frustrating, especially with the groove that I had worked my way into and the basketball I was playing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Watson previously strained the same hamstring prior to last season\u2019s training camp. This one was a little different, as the location of the strain made strengthening the muscle tricky, Watson said. His return came with a minutes restriction. He was on the court for just under 20 minutes and finished with 14 points, six rebounds and three assists.<\/p>\n
\u201cTired but very effective,\u201d Nuggets coach David Adelman said in assessing Watson\u2019s performance.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the funny thing about the minutes restriction. Sometimes it\u2019s frustrating, and sometimes it\u2019s almost too many minutes when a guy hasn\u2019t played. Playing three-on-three and five-on-five with coaches is not the same as playing against the Blazers and Jrue Holiday picking you up full (court) the first time you touch the ball. I thought he was good. He was aggressive and got to the paint. I loved the six rebounds, the three assists.\u201d<\/p>\n
Knowing his minutes would be limited, Watson said he wanted to push it for however long he was on the court.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was really just trying to go hard and get my legs under me and see where my conditioning was at,\u201d Watson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI felt good tonight. I think I\u2019m going to feel good in two nights. Then, after that, we\u2019ll just keep on going.\u201d<\/p>\n
Getting Watson back had the Nuggets at full strength for the first time since Nov. 12. They looked like their old selves after a sluggish start defensively. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray led the way with 22 points apiece. Jokic added 14 rebounds and 14 assists for another triple-double, while Murray dished out seven assists. Cam Johnson (19), Christian Braun (15) and Aaron Gordon (12) made sure all five Denver starters finished in double figures, with Bruce Brown (13) joining Watson in double figures off the bench.<\/p>\n
Deni Avdija led Portland with 23 points and 14 assists.<\/p>\n
After more than a month off, there are a few weeks left for Watson to build up his conditioning before he\u2019s expected to be a key contributor in Denver\u2019s postseason run.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be honest with you, man, this whole six weeks feels like a blur at this point. I feel like I\u2019m right back where I was six weeks ago,\u201d Watson said. \u201cThe confidence is there. Everything is there. The handle was a little loose tonight. I was winded. The altitude kicked my butt. Other than that, everything else was amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n
NUGGETS 128, TRAIL BLAZERS 112<\/p>\n
What happened: Denver led by two after the first quarter and 75-69 at halftime. The Nuggets extended the lead to 14 after the third and improved to 44-28.<\/p>\n
What went right: The Nuggets finished with a 27-9 advantage in fast-break points.<\/p>\n
What went wrong: Defense was a late arrival for the Sunday matinee. Denver gave up 40 points in the first quarter behind Portland\u2019s 7-for-15 start from 3-point range.<\/p>\n
Highlight of the night: Aaron Gordon came up with a loose ball and dropped a no-look pass to Nikola Jokic in one motion in the middle of the third quarter. Gordon\u2019s flashy assist put Denver up 12.<\/p>\n
Up next: The Nuggets head to Phoenix for Tuesday\u2019s 9 p.m. tip against the Suns.<\/p>\n
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