It took a 20-point comeback, but the Nuggets pulled off a Texas two-step Thursday in San Antonio.

Here are three takeaways from Denver’s 136-131 win at Frost Bank Center:

1. The comfortable win against Houston on Wednesday allowed the Nuggets to extend minutes on Thursday without too much risk. None of Denver’s starters played 32 minutes against the Rockets on the front end of a back-to-back, but Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Christian Braun all played more than 37 minutes Thursday in San Antonio. The Nuggets needed just about everything the starters provided to take both ends of the back-to-back. Jokic posted another triple-double with 31 points, 20 rebounds and 12 assists. He also recorded three steals and blocked two shots. Murray clinched the win with a couple of free throws, finishing the night without a miss on 15 attempts from the line and 39 points. Braun, who finished with 11 points and nine rebounds, grabbed a clutch defensive rebound to give Murray a chance to clinch the game. It’s easy to see this one going differently if Denver didn’t take care of business against Houston.

2. It came down to the wire, maybe due to a bit of gamesmanship, but David Adelman, Aaron Gordon and the training staff made the only sensible decision, holding Gordon out of the back end of a back-to-back. The last time Gordon played two games in as many days, he suffered his second hamstring strain of the season. The stakes are too high, and it’s too late in the season to risk Gordon’s availability for the postseason. Saturday’s game is also much more meaningful than the Spurs game. Denver’s not catching the Spurs or Thunder for one of the top two spots in the Western Conference, while the Nuggets and Lakers are among four teams fighting for the third and fourth spots.  Life without Gordon was a little easier since Victor Wembanyama missed the game for San Antonio.

3. There are two more games left against the Spurs and one more against the Thunder, but Saturday’s game against the Lakers is looking like the most impactful of Denver’s final 15 games. The Nuggets will have the opportunity to not only jump the Lakers in the standings but also secure the tiebreaker. With a win at Crypto.com Arena, the Nuggets would own the head-to-head tiebreaker against all three of the teams grouped with Denver in the three-to-six range in the Western Conference standings. Gordon should be back for the Nuggets, which should help against LeBron James, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

NUGGETS 136, SPURS 131

What happened: San Antonio turned a 12-point advantage after the first quarter into a 69-53 lead at halftime. Denver closed within 12 to start the fourth quarter and completed the comeback in the fourth to improve to 41-26.

What went right: Spencer Jones had his most impactful game since signing a standard contract. The rookie made 8 of 13 shots to finish with 19 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks in 33 minutes of playing time.

What went wrong: Denver won despite San Antonio going 19 for 47 from 3-point range, while Denver went 12 for 36.

Highlight of the night: A Nikola Jokic steal started a fast break late in the third quarter, and Cam Johnson finished the sequence with a one-handed dunk. Jokic gave the ball up to Tim Hardaway Jr., who provided the outlet pass to Johnson.

Up next: The Nuggets have a couple of days off before Saturday’s game against the Lakers in Los Angeles.