Stumbling Detroit Pistons travel to Denver to take on Nuggets
By Ryan Love
The reeling Pistons travel to Denver to take on the Nuggets Thursday night. The Pistons have 15 games remaining to make a run toward the playoffs.
The Detroit Pistons (30-37) stumble into Denver to take on the Nuggets Thursday night. The Pistons look to bounce back after an embarrassing 110-79 loss to the Utah Jazz Tuesday night.
The injury-riddled Pistons are 2-8 in their last 10 games. They lost the only other matchup against the Nuggets in December 103-84 in Detroit.
Denver’s Jamal Murray had 28 points to lead all scorers, but that game was before the Reggie Jackson injury and Blake Griffin trade. This is an entirely different club nowadays.
The Reggie Jackson watch continues. The latest reports provide no timetable for the point guard’s return.
Stanley Johnson and James Ennis III will continue to see extended minutes as Reggie Bullock‘s status remains unknown after his car accident Sunday.
The Pistons have just 15 games to right the ship for their own, and Stan Van Gundy’s sake. Rumors are intensifying around Van Gundy’s future with the Pistons, and consecutive poor performances would not help his cause.
The Nuggets (37-31) are 5-5 in their last 10 games and sit in 10th place in the Western Conference.
The Pistons will have their hands full with Denver’s offensive talent inside-and-out. Guards, Jamal Murray and Gary Harris are averaging a combined 34 points per game.
That guard play adds to the stellar scoring and passing ability of the Nuggets’ center, Nikola Jokic. He and Paul Millsap will battle against the Pistons frontcourt of Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin.
The Pistons need to wipe the memory of Tuesday night’s drubbing and improve on defense if they hope to keep up with the Nuggets.