The Denver Nuggets clawed back from a 20-point deficit but couldn’t ever take a lead, falling 124-121 to the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night at Little Caesars Arena. It was Denver’s second loss to the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons in eight days, dropping the Nuggets to 33-18 on the season.
A disastrous second quarter sealed Denver’s fate. Detroit outscored the Nuggets 37-23 in the period to take a 69-50 halftime lead, with Cade Cunningham orchestrating the damage with 17 points and seven assists before the break.
“I’m feeling it out every game, trying to find a group with rhythm, but the end of the first killed us,” head coach David Adelman said.
Nikola Jokic, meanwhile, managed just seven points on 3-for-10 shooting in the first half as Detroit’s physical frontcourt made life difficult. It was his third game back from a month-long absence with a knee injury.
“It’s a different game around the rim, and I’m trying to figure it out,” Adelman said. “It’s two different games with the bigs and the smalls.”
Jokic spent much of the night bewildered by the officiating. Adelman noticed.
“His frustration is not without merit.”
There were 47 fouls and 77 free throws in the game. Each coach used both their challenges, making the zebras a main character in the game’s story. It’s a common theme with the Nuggets over the years, including an ejection in Detroit in the past because of his feelings about the officials.
For the Nuggets, the primary thing continues to be who is on the floor. Adelman keeps tinkering with lineups as he navigates a roster still finding its footing after injuries have crushed the rotation. Christian Braun returned Tuesday after missing time, but the Nuggets sat Spencer Jones to preserve games on his two-way contract ahead of Wednesday’s matchup in New York.
“It’s very easy to say play him, but considering what happened with Aaron Gordon … even the best player in the world needs time to find rhythm for himself and with his teammates,” Adelman said.
Gordon remains sidelined with his third hamstring injury in nine months, a brutal blow for a team already missing Cameron Johnson to a bone bruise.
Denver showed fight in the second half, trimming that 20-point deficit to just two in the final minutes. But Tobias Harris’ fortunate banker with 1:46 remaining pushed Detroit’s lead back to 115-110, though the Nuggets almost came all the way back via the free-throw game.
Detroit’s All-Star duo outdid Denver’s. Cunningham finished with 29 points and 10 assists, while Jalen Duren added 19 points and 13 rebounds.
A bright spot for the Nuggets was Julian Strawther, who has gotten some run here in recent games, thriving against the Bucks several days ago.
“He’s been better as of late,” Adelman said. “He competed. He creates pace, and we don’t have a lot of pace. We have a lot of guys trying to get through this, playing a lot of minutes.”
Strawther scored 15 points and had a career-high eight rebounds.
What’s next for the Nuggets?
The Nuggets turn around quickly for a Wednesday night matchup against the Knicks in New York. Adelman said decisions on Jamal Murray, Peyton Watson, and Jokic will be determined Wednesday morning.
“Whoever plays will play hard — that’s the expectation,” Adelman said. “We gotta find ways before the break to win games. The race is beginning. Can’t wait for the break to happen, then join the race.”
Denver has four games left before the midseason classic.
