On January 24, Beijing time, the NBA regular season, the Nuggets played at home to the Pistons. The two teams played more stiffly in the first half, and the point difference has been difficult to open. In the second half of the third quarter, the Nuggets successfully played a suppressive force on the offensive end, with a single quarter score of 32-16, stretching the point difference to a high of 16 points. The Pistons fought back in the final quarter and managed to equalize in the final two minutes. The two teams need to fight until the last minute to decide the winner.
At the crucial moment, Sadiq Bay made a key mistake, and Jokic made 2 of 2 free throws to secure a four-point lead for the team to seal the win. With the Pistons making cover mistakes, the team missed the opportunity to chase points. The Nuggets eventually narrowly beat the Pistons 117-111 at home, refusing a reversal. The Nuggets avoided a losing streak while giving the Pistons two straight losses.
Statistics
Pistons: Team 5 in double figures, Cunningham 18 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists, Stewart 18 points, Joseph 18 points and 6 assists, Bay 11 points, 7 rebounds and 2 steals, Diallo 9 points, substitute Lyles 18 points and 5 rebounds, Hayes 8 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 blocks
Nuggets: Team 6 in double figures, Jokic 34 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals, Gordon 13 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists, Barton 14 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists, Rivers Jr. 11 points, substitute Forbes 12 points, Najib 12 points and 3 rebounds, Campazo 9 points, Cousins Nuggets debut 1 of 7 with 2 points and 6 rebounds
The Star of the Field
Jokic had 34 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals in this game, and continued to show his all-round skills in the game. At key moments, Jokic twice inflicted fouls on the free throw line, and on 4 of 4 free throws, the Nuggets maintained an absolute lead and sealed the win.
Highlight moments
Stewart scored 2+1 from the basket
Jokic backed Barton's hands
Cunningham passed Stewart to a layup
Cunningham stopped the mid-range whistle hit
Morris broke through the throw and scored
Game review
At the start of the first quarter, Stewart scored 2+1 inside the penalty area to score for the Pistons first. Jokic scored four straight points, Gordon scored on a basket, Diallo turned to jumper and Rivers Jr. hit from mid-range. The Pistons scored six straight points, Gordon threw a free throw, Stewart hit a three-pointer, and the Nuggets hit a 15-2 offensive run to honor the Pistons. Diallo scored 2+1 and the Pistons managed to score a 9-0 offensive surge to overtake the score. Najib made a layup, Cunningham made a back-up jumper, Forbes hit a three-pointer, and Hayes threw a throw to reverse the score. The first quarter ended with the Pistons leading the Nuggets 30-29.
At the start of the second quarter, Forbes made a sharp stop jump shot, Najib hit a three-pointer, and Stanley and Lyles scored consecutive points. Najib backhand layup, Barton hit a three-pointer, Stewart scored inside the box, and the Nuggets went on an 8-0 offensive culmination. Cunningham withdrew from the jumper, Reid responded with three-pointers and the Nuggets took a double-digit lead. Stewart and Cunningham scored consecutive points inside the box, Joseph hit a three-pointer, and the Pistons went on a 10-2 offensive climax, and the point gap was narrowed to one point. Forbes hit a jumper, Lyles made a layup, Jokic threw in, and Cunningham hit from mid-range. At the end of the half, the Pistons and Nuggets fought to 60 draws.
Easy side to fight again. Jokic hit a three-pointer, Stewart hit the penalty area, Barton scored on a layup, and Diallo broke through to pick a layup. Gordon hit a three-pointer and the Nuggets scored seven straight points. Joseph responded with three points, Forbes also scored on a colored, Bay jumper, and Cunningham hit a three-pointer to make the two teams two points apart. Reed and Campazzo scored back-to-back three-pointers and Lyles hit a jumper. The Nuggets scored seven consecutive points to take a double-digit lead again. Najib ran to dunk, Lyles made 1 of 2 free throws after causing a foul, and Campazzo whistled to pick up the basket. The third quarter ended with the Pistons trailing the Nuggets 76-92.
At the start of the final quarter, Jackson scored 2+1, Campazzo broke through the basket, and Lyles and Hayes scored consecutive points, 11 points apart between the two teams. Lyles scored seven straight points as the Pistons extended their offensive surge to 14-2, and the difference between the two teams was chased to four points. Jokic hooked a stop for the team, Stewart hit a layup, and Barton broke through to score. Rivers Jr. broke through and scored, McGrud hit a three-pointer, and Rivers Jr. hit a three-pointer in color. Joseph threw in the shot, Jokic hit 1 of 2 free throws and Hayes hit a three-pointer. Jokic threw in and batted a three-point shot to a two-point difference between the two teams. Barton responded with three points, Bay scored three points further, and Joseph threw a throw to help the Pistons equalize. Jokic scored from the basket and Joseph threw and re-scored. Jokic made four free throws after two fouls, and the Nuggets led by four points in the last 17 seconds. With the Pistons showing cover fouls, the Nuggets sealed the win. In the end, the Nuggets won the game at home without any chance.
Both sides started
Pistons: Joseph, Cunningham, Sadiq Bay, Diallo, Stewart
Nuggets: Monte Morris, Rivers Jr., Barton, Aaron Gordon, Jokic
(Text/Yuwen Basketball)