Even with late-game heroics, the Nuggets could only tread water for so long.
They lost a 109-107 heartbreaker to Detroit on Tuesday night at Ball Arena when Jamal Murray made just three of six free throws — his final miss was intentional — in the final 3.5 seconds of the game. Twice, Murray put up a desperation 3-pointer in the closing seconds and drew fouls by Javonte Green, sending Murray to the line.
But it was not to be.
The Nuggets entered the game against the rugged, defensive-minded Pistons after going 9-5 without three-time MVP Nikola Jokic. But, ultimately, the Nuggets couldn’t pull off a magic trick.
Though the Pistons sputtered from behind the 3-point line — at one point, the Eastern Conference leaders were 1 for 21 — they had just enough to pull out the victory.
It was a gusty effort by the Nuggets, and when Murray popped an 18-foot pull-up jumper — and did a little gig afterward — Detroit’s lead was down to 99-97 with 2 minutes, 27 seconds left. Murray led all scorers with 24 points.
With 56.4 seconds left, Tim Hardaway Jr. canned a 3-pointer from the top of the key, cutting the Pistons’ lead to 103-102.
Detroit won for the sixth time in its last seven games and improved to 34-11, by far the best record in the East.
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The Nuggets played without starters Aaron Gordon (hamstring), Christian Braun (ankle), and, of course, Jokic. The center, out for a month with a knee injury, is making steady progress toward returning, but the Nuggets won’t rush him back.
Denver trailed by as many as 18 points, but as coach David Adleman said, “We played our (butts) off” to get back into the game.
Detroit’s star guard Cade Cunningham, who’s been battling an injured wrist, led his team with 22 points.
The Nuggets found themselves in a 31-18 hole after a first quarter in which they shot 31.6% (6 for 19) and made just one 3-pointer on eight attempts. The Pistons were also stone cold from behind the arc (1 for 9), but they dominated the glass and in the paint, outscoring Denver 24-6.
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