The Utah Jazz have worried what the team will look like once Karl Malone and John Stockton retire.

Maybe they can breathe a little easier.

Scott Padgett and rookie Andrei Kirilenko scored 21 points each as the Jazz fought off a late Denver surge to beat the Nuggets 110-99 Wednesday night.

"Our two best players are obviously no longer able to carry us in every single game we play," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. "So it is critical for us to have a chance to win and for our young people to get better and understand what the game is about."

The Jazz dominated from the start, taking the lead at 6:23 of the first and never letting go. They opened the fourth quarter with a 15-point lead and widened it to 85-65 on a 3-pointer by John Starks and a layup by Padgett.

Six Utah players scored in double figures, leading the Jazz to their sixth straight victory, all of them on the road. The Jazz are in the midst of a nine-game road trip because of the Olympics.

"Right now, we have just had a good road trip and now we get to go home and regroup, get our energy back and continue on in a few days," said Stockton, who had 12 points, six on free throws. "It"s nice when it works out that way."