Jonas Valanciunas made history by becoming the first Denver Nuggets backup center in over three years to record a double-double, helping Denver cruise to a 135–112 win over the Utah Jazz.
The Denver Nuggets picked up another NBA win on Monday, cruising past the Utah Jazz 135–112, as backup center Jonas Valanciunas delivered a stat line the franchise hadn't seen in more than three years.
Valanciunas finished with 12 points in 16 minutes (5/10 two-pointers, 0/1 three-pointer, 2/2 free throws), 11 rebounds, and one assist.
According to Denver Sports reporter Jake Shapiro, Valanciunas became the first Nuggets backup center in more than three years to record a double-double. The last player to do so was DeAndre Jordan in October 2022.
Before Jordan, the feat hadn't been accomplished in six years, when Jusuf Nurkic managed it off the bench in 2016.
Valanciunas has now reached double figures in scoring in three straight games.
This season, the Lithuanian big man is averaging 8.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 13 minutes per game, while shooting 60.9 percent on two-pointers and 25 percent from beyond the arc.
The Nuggets have won seven of their last eight games and are tied for second–third place in the Western Conference with the San Antonio Spurs. Only the Oklahoma City Thunder (25–3) sit above them.
Nikola Jokic led Denver with another triple-double vs. Utah, finishing with 14 points, 13 rebounds, and 13 assists in 28 minutes.
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