Not even back-to-back games at altitude were enough to prevent the Bulls from turning the Ball Arena court into the streets of Pamplona, Spain, once again.

After scoring 129 points in each of their wins over the Nuggets last season, Chicago did one better in a 130-127 win over the Nuggets on Monday. Prior to the game, Nuggets coach David Adelman said the Bulls “embarrassed” the Nuggets last year. The fact that Chicago played a double-overtime game Sunday in Utah, extending their losing streak to five games, didn’t seem to matter, as the Bulls handed Denver its first home loss of the season and snapped the Nuggets’ seven-game winning streak.

“We knew what this was going to be. They gave us issues last year, and they gave us issues again tonight,” Adelman said.

“It just wasn’t good enough tonight.”

Adelman said the Bulls and Nuggets both created 13 transition opportunities. Despite the rest advantage, Chicago outscored Denver 23-14 in fast-break points. The Bulls raced out to an 18-point advantage in the first half.

“You can’t go three-for-13 on fast-break opportunities in a game where that team plays upbeat and fast,” Adelman said. “They give you all these chances; 14 points, not enough in the fast-break category for what we could’ve had. We were just really sloppy on the break.”

Josh Giddey and Ayo Dosunmu led the Bulls with 21 points apiece, while Kevin Huerter added 20. Jalen Smith (16), Jevon Carter (15) and Matas Buzelis (13) also scored in double figures for Chicago.

“They play fast even after makes. When they get it going, they can get it going,” Jamal Murray said. “It’s not just one person. Multiple guys impacted the game tonight. They play fast, and they play free. They get that thing up. I think their bench came in and did more damage than their starters.”

Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 36 points, 18 rebounds and 13 assists, and Murray added 34 points and 11 rebounds. Aaron Gordon (24) and Cameron Johnson (19) were the only other Nuggets in double figures, while the six others who played combined for 14 points.

“It seemed like they were always one step ahead. They were pushing the pace, pushing, passing the ball, advancing the ball, attacking downhill,” Jokic said.

“We were just kind of there.”

If the Bulls weren’t making more of their transition opportunities, they were making the Nuggets work with repeated pick-and-pop actions. Starting center Nikola Vucevic started one of seven from 3-point range before knocking down a 3 that made it a four-point game with 33 seconds left. Jalen Smith, Vucevic’s backup, made three of six from 3-point range, including a pair during Chicago’s second-quarter run.

“Today we were all a little bit slow,” Jokic said. “We were a step late.”

That’s a problem when the Bulls are running.

BULLS 130, NUGGETS 127

What happened: Chicago led by two after the first quarter, but Denver took a 64-63 lead at halftime. The Bulls regained a 10-point lead to start the fourth and handed Denver its first home loss.

What went right: Nikola Jokic was named Western Conference Player of the Week for a second time in as many weeks prior to Monday’s tipoff. Jokic averaged 39 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists as the Nuggets went 3-0 last week. Jokic recorded another triple-double early in the third quarter Monday.

What went wrong: The Bulls’ reserves outscored Denver’s bench 66-9. Ayo Dosunmu (21), Jalen Smith (16) and Jevon Carter (15) outscored the Nuggets’ bench on their own. Tim Hardaway Jr. led the Nuggets’ reserves with four points.

Highlight of the night: Nikola Jokic’s 12th assist of the night was his best. With the Nuggets down six in the middle of the fourth, Jokic caught a pass from Peyton Watson and quickly returned the ball to a cutting Watson for a two-handed slam.

Up next: The Nuggets are off to New Orleans for Wednesday’s game against the Pelicans.