Jonas Valanciunas didn't have a lot of fancy answers after the Denver Nuggets beat the Utah Jazz 130-117 on Wednesday night. But the ones he gave were worth paying attention to.

The veteran center finished with 13 points on 50% shooting, six rebounds, and went 7-of-8 from the free-throw line in a comfortable road win. He was efficient, physical in the post, and did the dirty work Denver needed while Jamal Murray stole the headlines by pouring in 37 points on 10 made three-pointers.

As many Nuggets fans are now aware, Nikola Jokic is now set to average a triple double for the entire season. When Valanciunas was asked how hard that is to do, he just grinned. "I don't know. I never did it." He paused, then added it's "probably pretty difficult."

It's obviously a near-impossible task to pull off averaging a triple double for an entire season. The average fan knows that, but someone like Jonas, who has played at a high level in this league for years, knows it all the more. 

Only three players in league history have reached this unbelievable achievement. Oscar Robertson did it back in the day, Russell Westbrook duplicated it at the end of last decade and beginning of this one, and now Jokic is set to do it for a second straight season. Valanciunas was just being honest here. 

Jonas also addressed what it's like playing alongside Murray when the latter gets hot from deep. His answer was characteristically straightforward: set good screens, stay out of the way, and watch the ball go in. "I know he don't like screens, but still, I'm gonna keep setting it," he said with a smile.

It's a blue-collar mentality that fits exactly what the Nuggets need from him as a reserve big who can score, rebound, and create second-chance opportunities without demanding touches. Denver's bench contributed 35 points in the win, and Valanciunas was a key piece of that production.

His three offensive rebounds and a perfect conversion rate on second-chance opportunities reflected a player who understands his role and executes without needing the spotlight.

Valanciunas was also asked what it takes to stay ready as a veteran reserve. His answer was direct: work on your game, work on your conditioning, work on your strength, and trust the process. "You have a great coaching staff to help you do that," he said. "Every game, game by game. You go there and impact the game."

That's the whole job. With the playoffs approaching, the Nuggets are getting exactly what they signed up for from Valanciunas: efficiency, professionalism, and great chemistry with the best player on the planet.