There’s more to Peyton Watson’s game that the Nuggets’ young forward is eager to show, but consistency comes first.

“As I often say, for any young player in this league – not just Peyton Watson, not just Christian Braun, but any young player in this league – consistency is by far the greatest challenge,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said after Watson’s career night Monday. “Can you find a way to be great one night and really good the next instead of having peaks and valleys?”

A knee sprain that cost Watson more than a month complicated his pursuit of consistency. After returning to the rotation on March 5, Watson’s production ebbed and flowed to a degree that left Denver’s coach wondering what he could expect for his potential-packed wing on a game-to-game basis.

Watson scored two points in 17 minutes in his first game back, a win over Sacramento, but followed it up 11 points in an overtime win over Phoenix. The most extreme variation followed in the next three games.

Watson played six minutes, all in the first half, in the March 9 loss at Oklahoma City. A foul was his only statistical contribution. The next night, with Aaron Gordon unavailable, Watson stepped up, making 6 of 7 shots and all four of the 3-pointers he attempted, for 16 points and two blocks in 24 minutes of playing time in a win. He failed to stack encouraging performances, scoring a total of six points in his next three games before things changed.

In the five games since, Watson has scored nine or more points in each game while shooting 55.3% from the field and 50% from 3. He’s grabbed five or more rebounds in four of those games and blocked 11 shots across the stretch.

“A little bit of rust, a little bit of I hadn’t played in a while, so my conditioning wasn’t as good as it is now,” Watson explained.

“I never want to give myself excuses. I was irritated by it not being as consistent as I wanted it to be, but I think now I’ve got myself in a groove.

“I also took that big ol’ brace off. That was slowing me down a lot. You guys know I got a more refined game. … I felt like I was being held back by that a little bit, but it was just for safety precautions, so I think now I’m just moving better, better conditioned, mind in a better place.”

None of the last five performances were as promising as Monday’s, albeit in a losing effort. He set a career-high with 24 points and did so on 12 shots. He matched his season-high with four blocks and grabbed six rebounds, while playing nearly 40 minutes in another start with Gordon unavailable.

“Peyton’s playing amazing. Peyton’s playing so good. Like, he’s not just playing with confidence but he’s being so active on both ends of the floor – cutting, moving if he doesn’t get it, setting screens, rebounding, back taps, running the floor, causing confusion, making shots,” Jamal Murray said. “I mean, he’s being very versatile in what’s being asked of him. I’m just really happy for him, because he’s starting to find his stride.”

Gordon’s status for Wednesday’s game is uncertain as he manages a right calf issue that’s lingered and a left ankle sprain suffered more recently. With the Nuggets wanting to make sure Gordon is fresh for the playoffs, Watson should have a longer runway to extend his five-game stretch during Denver’s nine remaining regular-season games.

“I think I’m just getting a good amount of opportunity to do what I can do and just finding a little bit more comfort,” Watson said. “My teammates are trusting me in positions to score and play-make, facilitate, do a lot more on the offensive end, so I’m just trying to be as consistent as I can in my role and try to do what I can to help our team win.”

Given more opportunity, Watson thinks he can show that he’s more than a corner specialist within the offense. He likes the increased space on the wing, believes he can be an efficient shooter on above-the-break 3s and facilitator in transmission, but consistency is his coach’s priority.

“Peyton’s done a good job of kind of bringing forth that effort that we need from him and contributing in an efficient manner like he did tonight,” Malone said. “He had a really good performance.”

Injury report

Denver

Nikola Jokic – doubtful (left ankle impingement)

Aaron Gordon – questionable (right calf injury management/left ankle sprain)

Christian Braun – probable (left foot strain)

Julian Strawther – out (left knee sprain)

Milwaukee

Giannis Antetokounmpo – questionable (left foot sprain)

Damian Lillard – out (right calf strain)

Bobby Portis – out (league suspension)

Jericho Sims – out (right thumb UCL sprain)