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The Detroit Pistons never trailed in a battle between two NBA Finals contenders.
They defeated the Denver Nuggets at home, 124-121, on Tuesday, Feb. 3, behind a big game from Cade Cunningham (29 points, 10 assists) to improve to 37-10. Fellow All-Star Jalen Duren also had a double-double, with 19 points and 13 rebounds, and Duncan Robinson added 20 points on 6-for-9 shooting from 3. The Pistons led by as many as 20 points and shot 41.4% (12-for-29) from 3.
That lead was 105-91 with just over seven minutes remaining. But Denver used a 19-7 run, capped by a 3-pointer from Jamal Murray (32 points) to cut it to two at the 2:06 mark. Tobias Harris answered with a clutch 3-pointer from the corner, and the Pistons led, 122-116, with 17 seconds remaining after a pair of free throws from Javonte Green.
Another 3-pointer from Murray cut their lead to three again, 122-119, with 10 seconds left. After two free throws from Cunningham, he fouled Murray on a 3-point try with 5 seconds left. Murray made the first two and intentionally missed the third, but the Pistons secured the rebound for a big home win.
BIG DEAL? Pistons grade for Jaden Ivey trade to Bulls better than you think
The win kept the Pistons 5½ games up in the Eastern Conference and eight games up in the Central Division on the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs, however, may have gotten the biggest win, landing James Harden in a blockbuster trade sending Darius Garland to the LA Clippers. Next up for the Pistons, though, it's the woeful Washington Wizards, who visit LCA on Thursday (7 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Detroit) as part of a home back-to-back that wraps up with a visit from the Knicks on Friday.
Nikola Jokic (24 points, 15 rebounds) was active for Tuesday’s game in Detroit after missing last week’s contest in Denver with a bone bruise in his left knee. Christian Braun (left ankle sprain) also played after missing the previous 12 games. But they were without starters Aaron Gordon (right hamstring strain) and Cam Johnson (right knee bone bruise). Caris LeVert (illness) returned for the Pistons after missing seven games.
INSIDE THE DEAL: Why Pistons decided to trade former lottery pick Jaden Ivey to Bulls
It wasn’t quite a healthy Nuggets starting five with Gordon and Johnson both out, but it was a much healthier version compared to the team the Pistons visited last week. However, it made no difference as the Pistons ran up a blowout margin in the first half.
They outscored Denver 37-23 in the second quarter to take a 19-point lead at halftime, 69-50, while holding the Nuggets to 31.8% (14-for-44) shooting. Jokic was held to seven points (on 3-for-10 shooting), eight rebounds and an assist as the Pistons cruised offensively, making 50% of their attempts. The Pistons also held Murray to 14 points on just 2-for-7 shooting. Murray did most of his damage at the line, making all eight of his free throw attempts.
The second quarter was the Pistons’ most dominant, with the Nuggets making just six of 22 attempts (27.3%). They bottled up the Nuggets at the rim — Cunningham forced a turnover on Braun with a strong verticality contest, preventing him from getting the layup attempt off. It led to a tough layup conversion by Cunningham on the other end, followed by a banked-in 3-pointer by Ron Holland to extend the lead to 40-30.
Holland followed his 3-pointer with a chasedown block on a layup attempt by former Piston Tim Hardaway Jr., and Holland later stripped Jokic to get Cunningham an easy transition layup, pushing the lead to 13. Consecutive 3-pointers from Cunningham, which gave them a 19-point advantage, were sandwiched between back-to-back steals by Ausar Thompson and Daniss Jenkins in the final minute of the half.
The sharpshooter and Michigan alumnus recently had a cold stretch, but Tuesday marked his second time in three games knocking down at least five 3-pointers. Over the three-game stretch, he’s 13-for-24 (54.2%) from 3.
Prior to that stretch, Robinson was 6-for-28 (25%). Even elite shooters have natural ebbs and flows over the course of the season, but the Pistons’ offense has a tendency to sag when Robinson’s having an off night.
They lost games to the Houston Rockets and Phoenix Suns during Robinson’s cold streak, and poor outside shooting was a significant factor in both. The Pistons shot 21.9% from 3 against the Rockets and 20.7% against the Suns.
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Contact Omari Sankofa II at [email protected]. Follow him on Bluesky and/or X @omarisankofa.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons hang on again to edge Denver Nuggets, 124-121
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They defeated the Denver Nuggets at home, 124-121, on Tuesday, Feb. 3, behind a big game from Cade Cunningham (29 points, 10 assists) to improve to 37-10. Fellow All-Star Jalen Duren also had a double-double, with 19 points and 13 rebounds, and Duncan Robinson added 20 points on 6-for-9 shooting from 3. The Pistons led by as many as 20 points and shot 41.4% (12-for-29) from 3.
That lead was 105-91 with just over seven minutes remaining. But Denver used a 19-7 run, capped by a 3-pointer from Jamal Murray (32 points) to cut it to two at the 2:06 mark. Tobias Harris answered with a clutch 3-pointer from the corner, and the Pistons led, 122-116, with 17 seconds remaining after a pair of free throws from Javonte Green.
Another 3-pointer from Murray cut their lead to three again, 122-119, with 10 seconds left. After two free throws from Cunningham, he fouled Murray on a 3-point try with 5 seconds left. Murray made the first two and intentionally missed the third, but the Pistons secured the rebound for a big home win.
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BIG DEAL? Pistons grade for Jaden Ivey trade to Bulls better than you think
Detroit Pistons playoff picture
The win kept the Pistons 5½ games up in the Eastern Conference and eight games up in the Central Division on the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs, however, may have gotten the biggest win, landing James Harden in a blockbuster trade sending Darius Garland to the LA Clippers. Next up for the Pistons, though, it's the woeful Washington Wizards, who visit LCA on Thursday (7 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Detroit) as part of a home back-to-back that wraps up with a visit from the Knicks on Friday.
Injury update
Nikola Jokic (24 points, 15 rebounds) was active for Tuesday’s game in Detroit after missing last week’s contest in Denver with a bone bruise in his left knee. Christian Braun (left ankle sprain) also played after missing the previous 12 games. But they were without starters Aaron Gordon (right hamstring strain) and Cam Johnson (right knee bone bruise). Caris LeVert (illness) returned for the Pistons after missing seven games.
INSIDE THE DEAL: Why Pistons decided to trade former lottery pick Jaden Ivey to Bulls
Pistons shut down Nuggets' offense in first half
It wasn’t quite a healthy Nuggets starting five with Gordon and Johnson both out, but it was a much healthier version compared to the team the Pistons visited last week. However, it made no difference as the Pistons ran up a blowout margin in the first half.
They outscored Denver 37-23 in the second quarter to take a 19-point lead at halftime, 69-50, while holding the Nuggets to 31.8% (14-for-44) shooting. Jokic was held to seven points (on 3-for-10 shooting), eight rebounds and an assist as the Pistons cruised offensively, making 50% of their attempts. The Pistons also held Murray to 14 points on just 2-for-7 shooting. Murray did most of his damage at the line, making all eight of his free throw attempts.
The second quarter was the Pistons’ most dominant, with the Nuggets making just six of 22 attempts (27.3%). They bottled up the Nuggets at the rim — Cunningham forced a turnover on Braun with a strong verticality contest, preventing him from getting the layup attempt off. It led to a tough layup conversion by Cunningham on the other end, followed by a banked-in 3-pointer by Ron Holland to extend the lead to 40-30.
Holland followed his 3-pointer with a chasedown block on a layup attempt by former Piston Tim Hardaway Jr., and Holland later stripped Jokic to get Cunningham an easy transition layup, pushing the lead to 13. Consecutive 3-pointers from Cunningham, which gave them a 19-point advantage, were sandwiched between back-to-back steals by Ausar Thompson and Daniss Jenkins in the final minute of the half.
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Robinson refinds outside touch
The sharpshooter and Michigan alumnus recently had a cold stretch, but Tuesday marked his second time in three games knocking down at least five 3-pointers. Over the three-game stretch, he’s 13-for-24 (54.2%) from 3.
Prior to that stretch, Robinson was 6-for-28 (25%). Even elite shooters have natural ebbs and flows over the course of the season, but the Pistons’ offense has a tendency to sag when Robinson’s having an off night.
They lost games to the Houston Rockets and Phoenix Suns during Robinson’s cold streak, and poor outside shooting was a significant factor in both. The Pistons shot 21.9% from 3 against the Rockets and 20.7% against the Suns.
Make "The Pistons Pulse" your go-to Pistons podcast, listen available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify).
Want more Pistons updates? Download our free app for the latest news, alerts, eNewspaper and more.
Contact Omari Sankofa II at [email protected]. Follow him on Bluesky and/or X @omarisankofa.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons hang on again to edge Denver Nuggets, 124-121
Continue reading...
