Cade Cunningham finally got the better of Nikola Jokic after seven tries as the East-leading Detroit Pistons staved off a late Denver Nuggets uprising for a third-straight win.
Cade Cunningham finally cracked the code.
The Detroit star finally topped three-time MVP Nikola Jokic in a head-to-head showdown after anchoring the East no. 1 Pistons to a 124-121 win over the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday, February 4 (PH time).
Cunningham finished with a stellar double-double of 29 points and 10 assists, marking his first win over Jokic in seven attempts as Detroit collected its third successive win and its fifth in the last six games.
Fellow All-Star Jalen Duren added 19 points and 13 rebounds, and Duncan Robinson contributed 20 points to the balanced effort.
Detroit built an early 20-point lead, but Denver threatened late after Jamal Murray’s three-pointer pulled the Nuggets within 112-110 with just over two minutes left in regulation.
Tobias Harris responded immediately with a triple, and the Pistons traded baskets with Denver down the stretch before sealing the win from the free-throw line.
Murray led the Nuggets with 32 points and eight assists, while Jokic posted 24 points and 15 rebounds.
The loss dropped Denver to 33-18, their third defeat in five games, while Detroit improved to 37-12, holding a 5.5-game lead over the second-place New York Knicks (32-18).
The Pistons now aim for a fourth consecutive win when they host the Washington Wizards (13-36), while the Nuggets look to end their skid against the Knicks.
—
Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.