Jokic scores 34 points, Nuggets beat Pistons 117-111

Nikola Jokic scored 34 points, including four free throws in the closing seconds, and the Denver Nuggets held on to beat the Detroit Pistons 117-111 Sunday night.

Jokic also had nine rebounds and eight assists, just missing a fifth straight triple double. Will Barton had 14 points and Aaron Gordon added 13 points for the Nuggets, who went 4-2 on a six-game homestand.

Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon, left, drives past Detroit Pistons forward Saddiq Bey in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Denver. (AP PhotoDavid Zalubowski)

Isaiah Stewart, Cade Cunningham, Cory Joseph and Trey Lyles each scored 18 points for the Pistons, who have lost four of five.

After a 3-pointer by Cunningham pulled Detroit to 75-73 with 3:57 remaining in the third quarter, Davon Reed and Facundo Campazzo hit successive 3’s to start a 17-3 run that allowed the Nuggets to take a 92-76 lead into the fourth.

Again, the Pistons rallied. Lyles converted successive three-point plays and Detroit pulled to 94-90 midway through the quarter. The game remained tight in the closing minutes and Joseph’s jumper with 1:45 left evened the score at 109-all.

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, front, drives to the rim past Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Denver. (AP PhotoDavid Zalubowski)

Jokic made a pair of free throws with 40.3 seconds left to give the Nuggets a two-point edge. After a Detroit turnover, Jokic was fouled on a drive to the basket with 17.7 seconds remaining and converted two more free throws.

An offensive foul on Joseph resulted in another turnover with 8.8 seconds left and the Pistons fouled Monte Morris, who made both free throws for the final margin.

The Pistons trailed by 10 late in the second quarter but gradually cut into the deficit and tied it at 60-all at the intermission on Cunningham’s pullup jumper that beat the halftime buzzer.

Denver Nuggets center DeMarcus Cousins takes the court for the first time as a member of the Nuggets in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Denver. (AP PhotoDavid Zalubowski)

DEMARCUS’ DEBUT

DeMarcus Cousins, signed to a 10-day contract Friday, made his Nuggets debut, playing 11:49 in relief of Jokic. He had two points and six rebounds.

TIP-INS

Pistons: F Kelly Olynyk has been sidelined again, entering the league’s health and safety protocols on Saturday. He played impressively in two games last week after returning from a knee injury that had kept him out for two months.

Detroit Pistons forward Saddiq Bey, center, drives to the basket between Denver Nuggets guard Monte Morris, left, and center Nikola Jokic in the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Denver. (AP PhotoDavid Zalubowski)

Nuggets: F Jeff Green was held out of the game because of a left quadriceps contusion. … F JaMychal Green remains sidelined due to the league’s health and safety protocols. … G Bones Hyland did not play because of non-COVID illness.

UP NEXT

The Pistons and Nuggets complete a home-and-home set Tuesday night when the Nuggets open a six-game road trip at Detroit.

Detroit Pistons forward Trey Lyles reacts after the Pistons were called for a foul late in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Denver. (AP PhotoDavid Zalubowski)

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, left, drives past Denver Nuggets guard Austin Rivers in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Denver. (AP PhotoDavid Zalubowski)

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, back, drives to the rim as Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Denver. (AP PhotoDavid Zalubowski)

Detroit Pistons guard Cory Joseph, right, drives the lane past Denver Nuggets guard Austin Rivers in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022, in Denver. (AP PhotoDavid Zalubowski)