In 2023, the Detroit Pistons didn’t secure their first win of December until their last game.
On Saturday night, they have a chance to finish December with a winning record as they complete a four-game road trip in Denver.
Detroit has won the first three games of the trip, including a 114-113 win over the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night, thanks to a four-point play by Jaden Ivey with 3 seconds left.
Saturday’s game might be the hardest, as the Pistons will be playing in Denver’s high altitude against MVP candidate Nikola Jokic. But Detroit has a rising star in Cade Cunningham, who leads the team in scoring (24.2 points) and assists (9.7) per game.
Cunningham has recorded six triple-doubles this season and six double-doubles in the last eight games, helping Detroit reach 14 wins, matching their total from the 2023-24 season.
“Give him a challenge, and he accepts it,” said Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff about Cunningham. “That’s the thing that, as we’ve gone, I can make a comment to him, whether it be the fourth quarter or halftime or whatever it is, I can make a challenge to him in shootaround about his defensive matchup, whatever it may be, and he can go out and get it done.”
Cunningham is getting plenty of support from his teammates. Ivey is averaging 17.5 points per game, former Nugget Malik Beasley is scoring 16.7 points per game, and Jalen Duren is leading the team with 9.2 rebounds.
Duren will have to face Jokic, who is averaging a career-high 30.5 points per game. He also leads Denver in assists (9.5) and rebounds (12.7).
Jamal Murray is the second-highest scorer for Denver with 19.2 points per game, and Michael Porter Jr. (18.4) is third.
The Nuggets won’t have their best defender, versatile big man Aaron Gordon, who will miss his second straight game due to a right calf strain from Wednesday’s 110-100 loss to Phoenix. Gordon had previously missed 10 games earlier this season with the same injury.
Without him, Denver’s defense is even more vulnerable. In their 149-135 loss to Cleveland on Friday, they allowed a season-high in points, with Cleveland shooting 47.9% from 3-point range and 56.8% from the field.
Coach Michael Malone has expressed frustration with his team’s defense, which hasn’t matched their strong offense. Denver is tied for third in the NBA in scoring with 119.6 points per game but is allowing 117.2 points per game.
Malone pointed out that last year, his team was one of the top defensive units, but this season, they’ve dropped to 24th in the league.
“This season, our defense is not where it needs to be,” he said. “Our transition defense, our paint defense, and our second-chance points allowed are all in the bottom five. It’s going to be tough to consistently play well and defend well if you’re getting beaten down the floor, off the dribble, and on the glass every night.”
