Credit Peyton Watson for the Nuggets’ win Thursday at Capital One Arena.

Here are five takeaways from Watson’s career night in Denver’s 107-97 win in Washington, D.C.:

1. It was a scary night from Watson in the best and worst ways. On the positive, there was legitimate, two-way star potential on display against the Wizards. Watson scored a career-high 35 points, making 10 of 16 shots from the field, 6 of 8 attempts from 3-point range and 9 of 10 free throws. Then came the eight rebounds, four blocks, three assists and two steals in 40 minutes of playing time. Mixed into the stuffed box score were a couple of worrisome falls. Watson headed back to the locker room briefly in the third quarter after turning his left ankle on a driving layup. There was another scary fall in the fourth, but Watson again walked it off. Those looking for an explanation for the Nuggets’ ability to stay afloat despite the injuries should start with Watson’s massive leap. What that means for Denver’s ability to retain the 23-year-old in the offseason remains to be seen, but giving him up before the trade deadline should require a Godfather offer.

2. Help started to arrive in Washington. Jonas Valanciunas started his first game since suffering a calf strain in Toronto on Dec. 31. It didn’t take long for the center to make an impact. He scored eight of Denver’s first 11 points and finished with 16 points and nine rebounds in 22 minutes. Valanciunas was clearly under a minutes restriction, and picking up five fouls probably limited him further, but his impact while he was on the court was obvious. Nuggets coach David Adelman remarked postgame it was nice to see opposing teams play drop coverage on Denver’s pick-and-roll sets. As good as it was to have Valanciunas back, it would be wise for the Nuggets to give Valanciunas the second leg of the back-to-back off. Don’t be surprised if Jamal Murray gets a night off, too. Murray was on the injury report with hip inflammation prior to tipoff and played through a hamstring issue, Adelman said.

3. Nikola Jokic publicly displayed his progress for the first time. Jokic was ruled out on Tuesday but did some on-court shooting prior to tipoff for the first time since his bone bruise on Dec. 29. There was a compression sleeve on his left leg in what looked to be a light workout, but it’s an encouraging sign nonetheless. Jokic returning in either of the two games left on the road trip should be considered a long shot. A return during the upcoming four-game homestand from Jan. 27 to Feb. 1 is more reasonable.

4. Success for however long the Nuggets are without Jokic should be defined by their place in the standings. So far, it has to be considered a resounding success. The Nuggets will enter Friday’s slate third in the Western Conference behind the Thunder and Spurs. The Nuggets trailed the same two teams on Dec. 30 by similar margins. The Rockets, Lakers, Suns and Timberwolves are still two or three games behind the Nuggets. If Denver can hold its ground in third until Jokic returns, that’s a massive win after many thought the conversation would shift toward the play-in positions during this stretch.

5. The Nuggets have already beaten the Bucks without three starters. If they do it again Friday, things might get even more uncomfortable in Milwaukee. Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo said he wouldn’t ask the only NBA team he’s played for to trade him earlier this season, but the Bucks have lost four of their last five after a 20-point loss to a shorthanded Oklahoma City squad on Wednesday. Things don’t sound so smooth in the Cream City.

“We’re not playing hard,” Antetokounmpo said after the loss to the Thunder. “We aren’t doing the right thing. We’re not playing to win. We’re not playing together. Our chemistry’s not there. Guys are being selfish, trying to look for their own shots instead of looking for the right shot for the team. Guys trying to do it on their own.”

NUGGETS 107, WIZARDS 97

What happened: Denver led by four after the first quarter and started the third quarter up 48-46. The Nuggets took a six-point advantage to the fourth, avoided the first three-game losing streak of the season and improved to 30-15.

What went right: The Nuggets went 24 for 26 from the line. Peyton Watson (9 of 10) and Jamal Murray (4 of 5) were the only guys to miss, while Aaron Gordon (5 of 5), Jonas Valanciunas (4 of 4) and Jalen Pickett (2 of 2) were perfect.

What went wrong: Tim Hardaway Jr.’s shooting slump continued. After going 0 for 8 from 3 on Tuesday, Hardaway went 0-5 against the Wizards.

Highlight of the night: Jamal Murray extended Denver’s lead to 12 with a four-point play in the middle of the third. Murray used a head fake to get Justin Champagnie in the air and stepped through to get a shot off, while drawing a foul.

Up next: The Nuggets are off to Milwaukee for Friday’s game against the Bucks.