Watkins is playing +11 minutes a night with a teammate out
Over his last three games, Jamir Watkins has taken on a bigger role for the Wizards when a teammate has been sidelined.
Jamir Watkins is averaging 31.2 minutes a night over his last three games, up 11 minutes from his season mark of 20.6, with a teammate out. His scoring has moved with it: 13.3 points a game over that stretch, against a season average of 7.4.
The extra time is the story. A jump of this size, from 20.6 minutes to 31.2, is not a small rotation tweak. It means the Wizards are leaning on Watkins to fill a real gap in the lineup, not just closing out a blowout or resting a starter for a possession or two.
Whether this holds depends on the teammate who is out. If that player returns to the lineup, Watkins' minutes are the first thing to watch. A snapback toward his season average of 20.6 minutes would mean the increase was a short-term patch. Minutes that stay closer to 31.2 even after that player is back would mean the Wizards see something in Watkins worth keeping, regardless of health.
The scoring number is worth watching on its own. Through 50 games this season, 2025-26, Watkins has averaged 7.4 points. His 13.3 points a game over the last three games came with more minutes, so it is not yet clear how much of the jump is more opportunity versus a real change in production. The next few games, especially once the Wizards' full roster is available again, will start to answer that. As of April 12, 2026, this is still a short stretch, three games, so the minutes trend is the more telling number of the two.