Denver Nuggets withstand Ben Gordon’s 45 to edge out Detroit Pistons 116-115 - NBA Recap
On Wednesday night, the Denver Nuggets survived Ben Gordon’s career night and edged out Detroit Pistons in the last 5 seconds of the game here at Pepsi Center.
The night belonged to JaVale McGee as he finished his debut game with a dunk, with just 5 seconds remaining in the game, helping the Broncos survive a Pistons rally of mammoth proportions.
"I just went hard and pushed Monroe under the rim and I was just wide open”. JaVale McGee who had 15 points and 7 boards said. “I was trying not to goaltend it and I just dunked it. It was definitely exciting -- my first game-winner."
Ty Lawson scored a team high 25 points for Nuggets and Arron Afflalo tallied 23. Al Harrington collected 16 points and 8 rebounds coming off the bench while forward Kenneth Faried recorded 12 in the game.
Wilson Chandler had a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards in Nuggets 26th victory of this season.
The night belonged to Ben Gordon who tallied his season high 45 points hitting all of his nine 3-pointers. However he cheesed off the fans after missing what could be a game winner jumper at the end of game.
"Our bigs were setting some hellified screens, getting me open, getting me some space. I tried to seize the opportunity and I was fortunate to get a game like that”.
Brandon Knight had 16 and Greg Monroe collected a double-double scoring 13 points to go with 11 rebounds. Reserves Jonas Jerebko and Will Bynum recorded 12 and 10 points respectively as Pistons rolled down to a 3 game losing streak.
Nuggets opened the game with a 14-4 run and stretched their lead to 24-8 deep into the frame. Pistons reduced the gap to 28-14, but Denver capped off the segment with a 12-4 spurt to claim a 40-18 advantage. Pistons came back strongly in the 2nd as they trimmed down the lead to 49-40 with a 22-9 spurt.
Paced by Gordon’s 21 points, they kept on shaving off the lead and by the end of segment they had converted the 22 points 1st frame deficit into just 5 points gap 62-57.
Detroit tied the scores at 72 early in the 3rd but the game remained neck to neck in the ensuing passage. Courtesy of Gordon 17 points they managed to take a 91-85 lead late through the frame.
Nuggets pushed the game into stalemate 91 each at the end of quarter with 6 unanswered points. The game remained highly competitive in the last 12 minutes as well, after some back and forth action Nuggets were leading the scores, 105-102 with 5:03 in hand. Pistons changed hands with a 13-6 spurt, 115-111, but Nuggets came up with a 5-nothing period and redeemed their lead to 116-115 and only 5 clicks to go.
Gordon missed his jumper with 2.8 seconds and thus sealed the fate for his team.
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