The heavy workload handled by the Nuggets’ starters in Tuesday’s double-overtime loss to the Timberwolves took a toll on Michael Malone’s rotations Wednesday.

The Nuggets were without every member of their regular starting five against the San Antonio Spurs.

Denver’s coach made the decision Nikola Jokic would not play after the three-time Most Valuable Player logged 53 minutes Tuesday, recording a 61-point triple-double in a losing effort. Jokic was listed on the injury report with left ankle impingement.

“I just went up to him after the game; I said ‘Hey, you’re out tomorrow,'” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said of Jokic at his pregame media availability. “This wasn’t going to be a discussion, because Nikola will play through anything. Sometimes you have to be the coach, whatever you want to call it, and he understood. … All the things he was dealing with while he was out, he’s still dealing with. He needs some time to get that ankle to calm down and everything else.”

Christian Braun also played 53 minutes against Minnesota and missed the second night of the back-to-back with a left foot sprain, while Aaron Gordon missed the game with right calf injury management and an illness after playing 47 minutes the night before.

Jamal Murray missed a third consecutive game with right hamstring tightness, while Michael Porter Jr. was away for the team for second straight game as he deals with an illness in his family.

Peyton Watson, who played 45 minutes Tuesday, remained questionable with right knee inflammation an hour before tipoff.

“Our identity isn’t just tied to five starters,” Malone said. “Our identity and our culture permeates the entire locker room, so the group that we go with tonight – whoever that is – they have a responsibility to go out there and play Denver Nuggets basketball.”

The Nuggets weren’t the only team without their stars. San Antonio was without De’Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama, among others.