The Detroit Pistons ran out of gas in their 134-121 away loss to the Denver Nuggets

DENVER – A lethargic third quarter doomed the Detroit Pistons at the end of a road trip Saturday.

They were outscored 47-28 by the Denver Nuggets during that period, resulting in a 134-121 loss. After winning the first three games in a four-game Western swing, the Pistons lost momentum late in the second quarter and trailed 25, 114-89, at the end of the third.

A rally ensued in the fourth, with the Pistons using their second unit (Marcus Sasser, Wendell Moore Jr., Ron Holland, Ausar Thompson and Paul Reed) to cut the deficit to seven (128-121) with more than two minutes remaining , but she couldn’t close it. Cade Cunningham finished the game with 17 points and eight assists, and Jaden Ivey also scored 17. Nikola Jokic led all players with 37 points and Jamal Murray added 34.

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The Nuggets torched the Pistons’ defense, shooting 56.1% overall and 48.1% from three. The Pistons (14-18) next return to action in 2025 when they host the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night at Little Caesars Arena.

Malik Beasley takes a 3 point lead

Beasley has been a walking veteran for the Pistons this season, proving to be arguably the best shooter in years on the floor while boosting the spirits of his teammates. He started Saturday strong, knocking down three of his first five 3-point attempts to lead the team in 3-pointers made this season.

Beasley has now scored 126 points this season, slightly more than Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards (125). This continues the historic season for the 28-year-old winger, who has already made the most 3s of any player in franchise history in 32 games and is on pace for 323, which would significantly surpass Saddiq Bey’s franchise in just one season Record of 211 3s set in 2021-22.

He was one of the best bench players in the league with a 41.8% shooting percentage from 3 on elite volume and is fourth on the team in minutes per game (28.5) despite coming into the game with the second unit.

Isaiah Stewart returns from injury

The fourth-year big man missed four straight games after suffering a hyperextension of his left knee on Dec. 16 against the Miami Heat. Things went smoothly for him and he finished the game with three points, three assists and four rebounds in 16 minutes.

His return left Reed, who thrived as the team’s primary backup during the road trip, with fewer available minutes. A defensive playmaker and all-around player, Reed had seven rebounds, two steals and a block against the Kings on Thursday; five assists, three steals and two blocks against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday and two steals and one block against the Phoenix Suns last weekend.

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Contact Omari Sankofa II at [email protected]. Follow him on X @omarisankofa.

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The Detroit Pistons ran out of gas in their 134-121 away loss to the Denver Nuggets

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