Nuggets, led by Jamal Murray, score 47 in third quarter
The Detroit Pistons couldn’t find their defense or a second gear and the Denver Nuggets took advantage as they bested Detroit 134-121. The Nuggets used a 47-point third quarter to effectively put the game away, though Detroit’s bench players at least made it interesting, cutting the deficit to seven in the fourth quarter.
This was a game, and a second half, that likely left both head coaches furious at their teams. Detroit was struggling with energy and execution all game, but were able to stay in the game because Denver’s defense wasn’t putting up much of a fight. But the third quarter saw the wheel come off.
Jamal Murray scored 21 points in the third and Nikola Jokic scored 12 points. The Nuggets were able to muscle themselves to the free-throw line 19 times in the quarter, making 16. A disgusted JB Bickerstaff relented and turned to his bench late in the third and the fourth.
The scrappy Pistons bench decided to make the game interesting. The Pistons went on a 24-10 run in a six-minute stretch to cut the lead to seven points with 2:35, but that was as close as they were able to get.
The Pistons were led by 17 points apiece from the starting backcourt of Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey. Cunningham did it in 18 shots and Ivey did it in nine. Tobias Harris no-showed, which is becoming the norm, and Isaiah Stewart had three points, four rebounds, and three assists in his first game back after missing time with a knee issue.
Jokic had a game-high 37 and Murray added 34 while Michael Porter Jr. had a season-high 27.
The loss means the Pistons end their four-game West Coast swing 3-1. They return home to face the Orlando Magic on Wednesday.