Detroit − The Pistons hosted a Denver Nuggets team that was motivated to leave Little Caesars Arena with a victory for three reasons.
The Nuggets ranked first in the Western Conference and were on a four-game losing skid, so they desperately needed a win. A victory would secure a playoff berth for Denver, which would make them the second team in the NBA to do so after the Milwaukee Bucks accomplished the feat on Wednesday.
Lastly, there was a revenge factor in play as the Pistons beat the Nuggets on their home floor on Nov.