Pistons at Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets look to reach the 40-win mark when they host the lowly Detroit Pistons on Tuesday. Only three other teams have reached the barrier and Denver moved into position to get there when it delivered a 128-116 victory over the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.
Power forward Paul Millsap scored a season-best 25 points and All-Star center Nikola Jokic tallied 24 as the Nuggets recovered from back-to-back setbacks by delivering a crisp, fast-starting effort. "I remember looking up at one point in the first quarter with like three minutes to go and we were shooting 100 percent," Denver coach Michael Malone said afterward. "I don't know if it was good offense or no defense." The struggling Pistons have dropped six straight games after falling 107-104 to the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday in the opener of a four-game road trip. “I thought we played hard, our guys competed," Detroit coach Dwane Casey told reporters afterward. "We got out to a good start then we didn't play smart in the first quarter. I’ve got to do better job of getting the right group in and the right combinations in those situations, but I thought we competed and got back."
TIME: 9 p.m. ET. TV: FS Detroit, Altitude
ABOUT THE PISTONS (19-40): Reserve forward Christian Wood continues his recent strong play as he recorded 26 points and nine rebounds against Portland on a night in which Detroit received 70 bench points. "He's growing right before our eyes," Casey told reporters of Wood. "I love where he is, I love his progression but he's not a finished product yet. Christian's got to get stronger. This summer he's got to get in the weight room and get stronger in his core together so he can take some bumps and hits and still score." Wood has registered four double-doubles over the past six games and has scored 20 or more points in four of the team's nine February outings.
ABOUT THE NUGGETS (39-18): Millsap turned 35 earlier this month and the four-time All-Star turned back the clock while making 9-of-11 shots - including matching his season high of four 3-pointers - during the win over Minnesota. "I watched a lot of film over the past few days, seeing how I can get better," Millsap told reporters. "I've been out of the lineup for a while so trying to get back in rhythm and figure things out." Millsap missed 15 games with a knee injury and scored in double digits in four of five games since returning on Feb. 8.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. SG Bruce Brown registered 19 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists as the host Pistons posted a 128-123 overtime win over the Nuggets on Feb. 2.
2. Detroit backup PG Brandon Knight scored a season-best 15 points against Portland after having just three on 1-of-7 shooting in his first two games since being acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers.
3. Denver PG Jamal Murray is averaging 26.4 points and 5.9 assists in seven games this month.