Most of the Nuggets’ rotation players got to rest for a second consecutive game, and Denver still secured the No. 3 seed on Sunday in San Antonio.

Here are three takeaways from Denver’s 128-118 win at Frost Bank Center:

1. Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets accomplished their primary goal. Jokic played 18 minutes, all in the first half, which was just enough to become eligible for end-of-season awards. He finished with 23 points, 8 rebounds and 1 assist. Despite averaging a triple-double for a second consecutive season and becoming the first player in NBA history to lead the league in rebounds and assists per game, Jokic’s best outcome will be a second-place finish in the Most Valuable Player race. He’ll be a first-team All-NBA selection for the sixth time and third consecutive season. If he finishes second in the MVP vote, he’ll join Larry Bird and Bill Russell as the only players to finish top two in the vote in six consecutive seasons. The best thing he can do for his legacy is still out there. Another championship and Finals MVP award would make him an undeniable top-10 player of all time.

2. The Minnesota matchup looked a lot better a week or two ago. Since then, the Timberwolves got Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels back in the rotation. McDaniels has been used to hound Jamal Murray the length of the court in previous meetings, and Denver’s one of the many teams without a great matchup to defend Edwards. Securing the No. 3 seed ensures the Nuggets won’t have to worry about facing Oklahoma City until the conference finals, but the route through the first round is more difficult than it would be if the Nuggets dropped to No. 4 and faced the Rockets.

3. Something about Denver just works for Bruce Brown. After enjoying a career year in 2022-23, Brown earned a big raise the Nuggets were unable to match. Stints with the Pacers, Raptors and Pelicans were plagued by injury, but Brown was one of the NBA’s ironmen this season, playing in all 82 games of the regular season. The numbers dipped slightly in his second stint with the Nuggets, but he scored just as efficiently as he did the first time around. He capped his perfect-attendance regular season by scoring 14 points on 8 shots with 5 assists and 4 rebounds. The Nuggets won the 28 minutes Brown played by 12 points.

NUGGETS 128, SPURS 118

What happened: Denver led by 3 after the first quarter and took a 70-56 lead at halftime. San Antonio closed within 10 points to start the fourth but couldn’t prevent Denver from closing the regular season on a 12-game winning streak to finish the regular season 54-28.

What went right: Denver finished with a 62-54 advantage in points in the paint and had four players — Jalen Pickett, David Roddy, Curtis Jones and Jonas Valanciunas — score in double figures off the bench.

What went wrong: San Antonio finished with a 19-6 advantage in fast-break points, and Denver finished with 12 turnovers to the Spurs’ 9.

Highlight of the night: David Roddy threw down a dunk and fed Bruce Brown for another slam early in the fourth quarter.

Up next: The Nuggets host the Timberwolves for Game 1 of their first-round series at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.