![\"Denver](\"https:\/\/gazette.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AP26092133583400-1024x683.jpg\")
Denver Nuggets center Jonas Valanciunas (17) shoots the ball against the Utah Jazz during the second half of an NBA game, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo\/Rob Gray)<\/p>\nThe win streak reached seven, but it was hardly a lucky night Wednesday in Salt Lake City.<\/p>\n
Here are three takeaways from Denver\u2019s 130-117 win over the Jazz at Delta Center.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s time to actually play the long game. In a season littered with injuries, a trend that continued with early exits for Peyton Watson and Tim Hardaway Jr. against the Jazz, Nuggets coach David Adelman has maintained patience was his preferred approach when it comes to bringing players back into the fold. It\u2019s hard to parse bad luck from bad process when it comes to injuries and how they\u2019re handled. The players want to play. If the medical staff gives the go-ahead, Adelman is left in a pretty powerless spot. Now that Denver has clinched a top-six spot in the Western Conference, patience has to be the play regardless of player preference. The Nuggets, 1.5 games behind the Lakers in third and 1.5 games ahead of the Rockets in fifth, hardly control their destiny. Best case, they get some help from the Lakers and finish third, but that could end up being a harder route if San Antonio can track down the Thunder for the one seed. Denver\u2019s route back to the Finals is inconsequential if the Nuggets\u2019 rotation players aren\u2019t healthy. The Nuggets now head into the final five games of the regular season with four players dealing with injury.<\/p>\n
2. \u00a0Be mad at Michael Malone all you want, but the ol\u2019 ball coach is correct. The ESPN studio show \u2013 which featured Denver\u2019s former coach, Kendrick Perkins, Malika Andrews and Brian Windhorst \u2013 engaged in brief debate over Most Valuable Player. Malone gave the nod to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, citing the Oklahoma City star\u2019s two-way impact. The conversation centered on last year\u2019s winner and Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama as the primary candidates, but Malone made a point to mention Nikola Jokic\u2019s name, adding \u201cvoter fatigue is real.\u201d Correct again, coach. The toughest part of the debate is defining value. Gilgeous-Alexander has the most straightforward case of being the best player on the best team, who doesn\u2019t have an obvious weakness. Wembanyama is clearly the most impactful defensive player in the league with San Antonio sitting in second in the Western Conference. Luka Doncic\u2019s case revolves around being the league\u2019s leading scorer and leading the overachieving Lakers to third in the loaded conference. Jokic is going to average another triple-double and is on pace to become the first player in NBA history to lead the league in rebounds and assists in the same season, but it\u2019s not going to be enough regardless of his torrid stretch which continued with 15 points, 17 rebounds and 12 assists against the Jazz. Gilgeous-Alexander is the consensus favorite among the sportsbooks with Wembanyama having the second-best odds. Jokic is a distant fourth, and there\u2019s not enough time to change the narrative.<\/p>\n
Denver Nuggets center Jonas Valanciunas (17) shoots the ball against the Utah Jazz during the second half of an NBA game, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo\/Rob Gray)<\/p>\n
3. \u00a0A lot of people were premature when writing off Jonas Valanciunas. A week ago, the consensus was Valanciunas was an afterthought when it comes to Denver\u2019s playoff rotation. In their defense, Valanciunas didn\u2019t play for nearly two weeks after a streak of ineffectiveness. That\u2019s changed in Denver\u2019s last two games. Valanciunas was called on in an emergency Sunday when Denver was without Aaron Gordon, who returned Wednesday, and Cam Johnson, Spencer Jones and Zeke Nnaji, who left the game against the Warriors and did not return. The big Lithuanian\u2019s impact was undeniable against Utah. He earned eight free throws, making seven, and finished with 13 points, six rebounds and a block in 13 minutes. With the Nuggets\u2019 injury outlook uncertain, there\u2019s good reason to include him in the future plans.<\/p>\n
NUGGETS 130, JAZZ 117<\/p>\n
What happened: Denver led by 11 after the first quarter and 68-54 at halftime. Utah closed within seven to start the third, but both teams got their desired result in the end.<\/p>\n
What went right: Jamal Murray made three 3-pointers in the first 90 seconds and finished with a game-high 37 points. He finished 10 of 16 from 3-point range and added five rebounds and four assists.<\/p>\n
What went wrong: Utah outscored Denver in points in the paint (62-54), fast-break points (21-18) and points off turnovers (21-15). Nikola Jokic committed five of Denver\u2019s 13 turnovers.<\/p>\n
Highlight of the night: Murray\u2019s fifth 3-pointer of the first quarter came from 49 feet out at the buzzer. There might\u2019ve been an extra step that went uncalled, but the Blue Arrow\u2019s shot was pure.<\/p>\n
Up next: Denver has a couple of days off before Saturday\u2019s 1 p.m. tipoff against the Spurs at Ball Arena.<\/p>\n
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