By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After officially securing their eighth consecutive playoff berth on Tuesday, the Denver Nuggets extended their winning streak in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season to seven games with a commanding 130–117 victory over the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center on Wednesday.
Improving to 49-28 was fueled by another historic performance from Nikola Jokic, who recorded his 32nd triple-double of the season. The Serbian superstar finished with 15 points, 17 rebounds, and 12 assists, marking his fifth triple-double in his last six appearances. His efficiency and floor leadership allowed the team coached by David Adelman to control the tempo from the opening tip.
Complementing the starting unit, Lithuanian veteran center Jonas Valanciunas provided a significant spark off the bench. In just 13 minutes of action, he contributed 13 points, six rebounds, and a block, including a pivotal layup during a 15–2 second-quarter run that broke the game open.
Valanciunas has handled fluctuating rotation spots with a professional, team-first mentality. During a postgame media session, he addressed his recent omission from the lineup and his approach to staying sharp: “You’ve got to stay ready. We have a great coaching staff to help you do that. You work on your game, you work on your conditioning, you work on your strength. We have all kind of tools to be in shape and be ready.”
The hosts missed their European contributors. Finnish star Lauri Markkanen was sidelined with a right hip impingement, while Bosnian center Jusuf Nurkic remained out as he continues his recovery from a nose injury. Additionally, Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk did not see game action, remaining on the bench for the duration of the contest.
Denver returns to Ball Arena to start a four-game homestand this Saturday, hosting French superstar Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs in a matchup with major seeding implications for the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google.
With only five games remaining in the Regular Season, the Nuggets are now within one victory of reaching their fourth straight 50-win season. The team currently sits in fourth place in the Western Conference standings, trailing the Los Angeles Lakers for the third seed.