DENVER — Four games into an 82-game season, an 8-minute, 27-second stretch means little.

Then again, what the Nuggets’ bench did in the second quarter of a 122-88 cruiser over the Pelicans on Wednesday night at Ball Arena portends good things. The Nuggets, off to a 3-1 start, play at Portland on Friday night.

After playing the entire first quarter, star center Nikola Jokic was parked for the next 8:27, during which time the Nuggets outscored the Pelicans 17-8, extending their lead to 51-33. Coach David Adelman said he couldn’t remember the last time a healthy Jokic sat for so long a stretch.

Jokic liked his view from the sideline, especially the play of backup center Jonas Valanciunas, who became the hub of the offense and played solid defense on the other end. Valanciunas scored six points, draining a 15-foot jumper off an assist from Julian Strawther, popping in a 6-footer in the paint on an assist from Peyton Watson, and making a 5-foot baby hook on another assist from Watson.

“To have different guys and have different energy, I like that,” said Jokic, who tallied 21 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in a mere 28 minutes. “(Valanciunas) is definitely a threat down there. The guy can score, and he’s big and dominant down there. He’s getting people to collapse on him, and he’s a really good passer. So, it’s definitely an advantage for us.”

The Nuggets landed the 33-year-old Valanciunas in a deal with Sacramento in the offseason. Denver is counting on him to reduce Jokic’s minutes, leaving him fresher for the playoffs. Jokic, 30, averaged a career-high 36.7 minutes per game last season.

Valanciunas welcomes the weight of the assignment.

“That’s big pressure,” he said. “Big shoes to fill. … Second unit, trying to come out and play positive. Don’t lose the lead, or build a lead. That’s our job. So we’re doing it, (but it’s) still just four games.”

Valanciunas finished with 10 points, shooting 5 of 7 with six rebounds and three assists in 14 minutes.

” ‘Big Val’ is nice, you know?” Aaron Gordon said. “He’s certified. He’s just really, really, really, really good. So there’s not a huge drop-off.

“He’s just smart. Knows his game. Knows his spots. He’s bigger than every other matchup he has on him. And he settles down that second unit. When things get stymied or we can’t find a bucket, you can play through Big Val, just like how we play through ‘Joker.’ ”

The irony of Wednesday night’s game was that when Jokic and most of the first team returned near the end of the first half, the Nuggets played sloppily, and the woeful Pelicans outscored them 14-2, reducing Denver’s lead to 53-47. That ugly stretch became a footnote when the Nuggets went on a 27-2 run to open the third quarter.

As much as Adelman wants to get Jokic off his feet, he’s still searching for the right formula.

“I have to be careful with it,” the coach said. “It’s great that we can do it, but I also thought he was stiff when he came back in. So there is a trade-off to all of this stuff.”

Christian Braun, who scored 17 points, snared six rebounds and dished four assists in just 27 minutes, likes what Denver’s bench is providing. It means a little spring in his step now, and, hopefully, will ward off heavy legs come April.

“Just having those guys is great,” Braun said. “Just having the minute totals being a little lower, your body is a little more fresh. It’s different than it was last year. We have some guys who haven’t touched the floor as much. Guys like Julian Strawther, who’s a really good player, hasn’t gotten as many opportunities, but he comes in tonight and plays really well. We have a lot of guys who can really, really play. We knew that in the summer.”

Then Braun couldn’t resist taking a parting shot at Jokic.

“It’s really good when ‘Jok’ can get some rest,” the 24-year-old joked. “I don’t need it, I’m still young.”

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Nuggets reporter Bennett Durando contributed to this story.

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