Recent history was on the side of the Denver Nuggets heading into Saturday’s game with Detroit. Denver entered the game winners of 10 of their last 12 against the Pistons and looking to build for the future after a road win in Minnesota on Thursday. Detroit wanted no part of that history or the future.
The Pistons rolled to a 103-86 victory on the back of a huge night from Andre Drummond. The 6-foot-11 center scored a game-high 19 points and pulled down 20 rebounds, including 17 on the defensive end, to lead the Pistons. Drummond also logged career block number 500 in the contest, one of three on the night.
For Denver, Wilson Chandler scored 21 points off the bench but couldn’t help the Nuggets overcome a 29-12 deficit after one quarter. Head coach Michael Malone emptied his bench in the contest, the first of a back-to-back that will see them travel to Boston on Sunday.
Jamal Murray scored his first NBA points and Malik Beasley logged his first NBA minutes in the loss. Gary Harris played his first game of the season, putting in 16 minutes and scoring three points. Harris had been sidelined with a groin injury through the team’s first four games.
The loss runs Denver’s record to 2-3. They continue their five-game road trip in Boston on Sunday before closing it out on Tuesday in Memphis. Things don’t get any easier for the Nuggets upon their return to Pepsi Center; they host the Warriors on Thursday.
