The Nuggets are a huge threat heading into the playoffs.
The Denver Nuggets aren't worried about who they play in the postseason and Jonas Valanciunas made that very clear after Friday night's win.
Denver knocked off the Oklahoma City Thunder 127-107 at Ball Arena to extend their winning streak to 11 games, and even though both teams rested their stars, the message from Valanciunas carried real weight heading into the playoffs.
No Picking and Choosing
After putting up season highs of 23 points and 17 rebounds, Valanciunas was asked about playoff seeding and whether matchups factor into how this team approaches the final stretch. His answer was about as straightforward as it gets.
"If you want to reach the goal, we got to beat everybody who's going to be in front of us," Valanciunas said. "Picking the matchups sometimes you get burned."
That attitude has been a theme for this Nuggets team all season, especially over the last month as they've surged up the Western Conference standings.
Denver sits at 53-28 and has clinched at least the No. 4 seed, with a shot at the No. 3 spot still on the table heading into Sunday's finale in San Antonio.
Valanciunas went even further with it, too.
"We're just playing every game to win. That's all we can do," he said. "No matter who's playing, who's playing on their team, we're coming in to win the games. That's the fun part. You don't pick and choose the opponents. That's how you get burned, I feel like."
Valanciunas Is Finding His Rhythm
What made Friday's performance so notable is that Valanciunas has been dealing with a reduced role for most of this season, averaging just 8.4 points and 4.8 rebounds in around 13 minutes per game.
But with all five starters resting, including Nikola Jokic who is averaging 27.8 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 10.9 assists this season, Valanciunas stepped into the starting lineup and dominated.
He shot 9-for-14 from the field, added four assists and two blocks, resembling the version of himself that once averaged double-doubles across multiple seasons.
He has now scored 14 or more points in three straight games, and his willingness to stay ready despite limited minutes is something teammates and coaching staff have praised throughout the year.
Why Denver Is Dangerous
The Nuggets are one of the most complete teams in the Western Conference right now, and it goes beyond what Jokic and Jamal Murray do on any given night.
Denver's depth has proven it can win without the starters, which is a scary thought for any opponent facing them in a seven-game series.
Julian Strawther added 22 points on Friday, David Roddy poured in 21 off the bench, and this team just keeps finding ways to win regardless of who is on the floor.
With 11 straight victories and the postseason right around the corner, the Nuggets are playing with a level of confidence and depth that makes them a legitimate threat to come out of the West.