The Detroit Pistons took on the Denver Nuggets at the Palace on Saturday evening and continued their dominance at home. The Pistons had beaten visiting teams by an average of 18 points per game in their first three home wins. Tonight, they beat the Nuggets by 17 points, finishing 103-86.
The Pistons started the game fast, taking a 10-0 lead and eventually leading 16-2. They would finish the quarter up 29-12. However, the second quarter was a completely different story. They would lose the quarter 32-22, and only take a 7-point lead into halftime.
The third quarter would be the closest quarter between the two teams with Detroit barely winning it 26-23. The Pistons would take a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter.
And unlike the 4QC teams of the past, the Pistons actually expanded their lead. Stanley Johnson had a huge hand in it, making five straight shots, including his first three-pointer of the season. He entered the game shooting just 12.5-percent. The Pistons would win the quarter by seven and finish the game up 17 on Denver, winning 103-86.
Andre Drummond had a very efficient night and finished one point shy of another 20-point, 20-rebound game. He would shoot 6-for-10 from the field, but 7-for-11 (!) from the free throw line for 19 points to go with 20 rebounds and three blocks opposite four turnovers. Take that in. Drummond shot, and made, more shots from the free throw line than he did from the floor. More of that, PLEASE!
The Pistons finished with six players in double figures. Tobias Harris was not one of them, shooting only 4-for-11 from the field, including 0-for-3 from distance. Those who were in double-figure scoring were Marcus Morris with 15 (5-for-10 shooting), Ish Smith with 11 (5-for-13 shooting), Jon Leuer with 15 (6-for-10 shooting), Kentavious Caldwell Pope with 13 (5-for-11 shooting), and Stanley Johnson with 12 (5-for-7 shooting).
Johnson came into the game shooting 12.5-percent. He would hit his first three of the year in the middle of his five consecutive made shots (he missed his first and last shots of the game).
The Pistons are now 4-2 on the season and will now play three straight on the road.