The Denver Nuggets are heading into Detroit with a clear mission: avenge an earlier loss to the Pistons and kick off their Eastern road swing with a statement win. That first matchup?
A narrow defeat, yes-but context matters. Denver was without Nikola Jokic, the reigning two-time MVP and the engine that makes their offense hum.
And Jamal Murray, typically automatic from the line, missed two key free throws in crunch time. That’s not a formula you see often, and it’s certainly not one you expect to repeat.
This time, the Nuggets are far closer to full strength-and that changes everything.
Jokic is back in the lineup, easing his way in with limited minutes (24 and 29 in his last two outings) as he works his way back from a knee injury. Even on a minutes restriction, his presence is transformative.
He doesn’t just score-he orchestrates. With Jokic on the floor, Denver’s offense flows with a rhythm and purpose that few teams can match.
Christian Braun is nearing a return as well, officially listed as questionable. That’s another potential boost to Denver’s depth and perimeter defense. While Aaron Gordon and Cameron Johnson remain out indefinitely, this is the healthiest the Nuggets have looked in weeks-and the timing couldn’t be better.
As for Murray, don’t expect a repeat of that off night at the stripe. He’s an 87% career free-throw shooter, hitting at an 88% clip this season.
That kind of reliability doesn’t just vanish. The missed free throws in the first meeting were an anomaly, not a trend.
And with Murray now officially a first-time All-Star, the expectation is that he’ll rise to the moment-as he so often has in big games. When he’s locked in, we see flashes of the “Bubble Murray” that lit up the playoffs.
That version of him changes everything.
Fast Starts Matter
One of the recurring issues for Denver this season has been sluggish starts. That was the case in the first meeting with Detroit, where the Nuggets fell behind early and spent the rest of the game chasing.
Against a team like the Pistons-who’ve built their reputation on physical, disciplined defense-you can’t afford to dig yourself a hole. They’ll make you earn every possession.
The key for Denver? Set the tone early.
With Jokic back to anchor the offense and Murray capable of taking over late, the Nuggets have the firepower. But it starts with pace and purpose from the opening tip.
Push the tempo. Force Detroit to play catch-up.
When Denver controls the pace, they’re one of the most dangerous teams in the league.
More Than Just a Midseason Matchup
This game carries weight beyond the box score. With the Western Conference standings as tight as they are, every win matters.
The Nuggets are jockeying for position near the top, trying to fend off the Spurs and avoid slipping into a logjam with the Rockets and Thunder. A loss could drop them to fourth, which means a tougher first-round matchup-and potentially a longer road back to the Finals.
On the flip side, this could very well be a preview of June basketball. Both teams have the talent, the coaching, and the depth to make deep playoff runs. A win here doesn’t just help in the standings-it sends a message.
Denver’s got the pieces back. Now it’s about putting them together, starting with a little payback in Detroit.