DETROIT — Nikola Jokic delivered a stellar performance with a triple-double consisting of 23 points, 17 rebounds, and 15 assists. Teammate Jamal Murray added to the scoreboard with 31 points, leading the Denver Nuggets to a convincing 134-119 victory over the Detroit Pistons, snapping Detroit’s eight-game winning streak on Friday night.
Michael Porter Jr. contributed significantly with 28 points, and Christian Braun equaled Jokic’s scoring tally with 23 points for Denver. This victory marks the Nuggets’ 11th win in their last 13 encounters. Meanwhile, Malik Beasley stood out for the Pistons with 16 points off the bench, although the starting lineup for Detroit was significantly outplayed, falling behind 113-54 in points. Cade Cunningham struggled, managing only 11 points on a 3-for-12 shooting effort, along with five assists and three rebounds.
The Nuggets maintained a strong lead, heading into the final quarter with a 107-87 advantage. Detroit made minor inroads by trimming the deficit from 25 points down to 15 during the game’s final minutes, but a substantial comeback never materialized.
Key Insights:
The Nuggets: Denver had an explosive start and third quarter, each with 39 points, marking the second instance this season they reached 134 points against the Pistons.
The Pistons: Having posted a remarkable 9-3 in February following a 10-6 run in January, the Pistons overcame a previous NBA-record period of 37 consecutive months without securing a winning record.
Decisive Moment:
The Pistons trailed closely at halftime, 68-63, but the Nuggets burst into the third quarter with a commanding 27-9 run. Murray scored 12 during this spurt, and Jokic contributed with four assists and six rebounds. Denver’s shooting accuracy soared to 71.4%, converting 10 out of 14 attempts, while Detroit struggled at 21.4%, making just 3 of 14 shots.
Statistics of Note:
Even though Jokic was 1-for-5 in shooting from the field, he amassed 10 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists in the first half. His effectiveness at the free-throw line was evident as he converted eight of nine opportunities and played a pivotal role in drawing fouls that benched Pistons centers Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart due to foul issues.
Next on the Schedule:
The Pistons will quickly turn around and host the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday for a back-to-back game. Meanwhile, the Nuggets will wrap up their four-game road swing with a faceoff against the Boston Celtics on Sunday.
