Nuggets' Peyton Watson, Spencer Jones Injury Update Before Wolves Series

Denver head coach David Adelman provides an update on the status of two key Nuggets forwards ahead of the playoffs.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 12:33am

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the action of a basketball game, with sharp geometric shapes in bright colors representing the players and movement on the court.The Nuggets' defensive versatility could be the key to their playoff success against the Timberwolves.Denver Today

The Denver Nuggets are preparing to face the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the NBA playoffs, but the status of two key forwards, Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones, has been uncertain due to recent injuries. However, Nuggets head coach David Adelman has provided an update, stating that both players have participated in non-contact drills and are trending in the right direction to potentially play in Game 1 against the Timberwolves.

Why it matters

Having Watson and Jones healthy and available will be crucial for the Nuggets' success against the tough Timberwolves matchup and in the playoffs overall. Both players provide defensive versatility and scoring punch off the bench, which will be important to complement the Nuggets' stars Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.

The details

According to Adelman, both Watson and Jones participated in non-contact drills during Nuggets practice on Wednesday, with the hope that they will be able to play in Game 1 against the Timberwolves. However, neither player has been fully cleared yet. Watson has been dealing with a hamstring issue that has limited him to just 5 games since early February, while the extent of Jones' injury is unclear. Adelman stated his hope is that both players will be available for the series opener, but if not, the Nuggets will go with the fully healthy group.

  • The Nuggets and Timberwolves will tip off their first-round playoff series on Saturday, April 19, 2026.
  • Peyton Watson has been out since early February due to a hamstring injury.
  • Spencer Jones has also been sidelined, but the specifics of his injury are unknown.

The players

Peyton Watson

A fourth-year forward for the Denver Nuggets who has had a breakout season when healthy, averaging 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 49.1% from the field and 41.1% from three-point range.

Spencer Jones

A forward for the Denver Nuggets who has also been dealing with an injury and has not played in the final few games of the regular season.

David Adelman

The head coach of the Denver Nuggets.

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What they’re saying

“Peyton and Spence both practiced-- not contact-- but all non-contact stuff. Spence did more yesterday as far as his PD [player development workout]. He looked good, but neither guy is cleared as of yet.”

— David Adelman, Head Coach, Denver Nuggets

“My hope is they'll play in Game 1. If not, we'll play the group that's fully healthy.”

— David Adelman, Head Coach, Denver Nuggets

What’s next

The Nuggets and Timberwolves will tip off their first-round playoff series on Saturday, April 19, 2026. The status of Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones for Game 1 will be a key storyline to monitor leading up to the series.

The takeaway

The health and availability of Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones will be crucial for the Nuggets' success against the Timberwolves and in the playoffs overall. Their defensive versatility and scoring punch off the bench complement the Nuggets' star duo of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, and getting them back at 100% could elevate Denver to new heights in the postseason.