Denver Nuggets pick up first win of the season by defeating the Detroit Pistons – NBA Recap
The Denver Nuggets played their first game of the season at home, and also managed their first victory of the season after three consecutive losses when they defeated the Detroit Pistons 109-97 on Tuesday night here at the Pepsi
Center. Andre Iguodala had a big night for the Nuggets, finishing with 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead six Denver players with double digit points. Greg Monroe had a game high 27 points and 10 rebounds for the Pistons, but his effort was not enough to secure
a victory for his team.
The Nuggets, feeding from the energy and excitement of the home crowd, got off to a good start and took an early 10-3 lead. Ty Lawson then hit a three pointer and Kenneth Faried followed with a slam dunk to put the Nuggets up
15-5, as the Pistons could only manage two field goals in the first six minutes of the first period. However, a 13-4 run by the Pistons put them back within one of the Nuggets. Two free throws by Rodney Stuckey tied the game at 21, but Corey Brewer nailed
a three pointer in the final seconds of the period to put the Nuggets up 24-21.
A driving finger roll by Jonas Jerebko put the Pistons up 29-28 early in the second period, and a three pointer later in the period by Kim English had them leading 39-36. Andre Miller then made a three point play to tie the game
once again at 39, which was followed by two free throws by Ty Lawson to put the Nuggets up 41-39. The Pistons stayed close throughout the rest of the first half, but a 6-2 run by the Nuggets to close the half put them up 58-51 heading into the halftime break.
The Nuggets started the third period strong, and a layup by Lawson put them up 65-56. The Pistons scored the next 5 points to cut into the Nuggets lead, and a 6-0 run by the Pistons later capped off by a jump shot by Jason Maxiell
tied the game at 67. Denver responded with back to back three pointers by Gallinari and Iguodala, and a free throw by Miller had them leading 75-69. A 6-0 run which included four points from JaVale McGee extended the Nuggets lead to 81-72, and the Nuggets
led 85-76 at the end of the period.
A three pointer by Wilson Chandler followed by a three by Andre Iguodala and Corey Brewer early in the final period had the Nuggets up 96-80. Detroit attempted a comeback by going on a 12-3 run, but Iguodala sealed the fate of
the game by scoring the next 6 points for the Nuggets and putting the team up 105-92 with 1:42 left in the game. The Nuggets eventually won 109-97.
McGee finished with 16 points where as Kenneth Faried had 15 points and 8 rebounds for the night. Ty Lawson also finished with 15 points and 9 assists, and Kostas Koufus had 14 for the night. Rodney Stuckey had 17 points, 4 rebounds
and 4 assists for the Pistons, where as Jerebko came off the bench to score 11.
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