J.R. Smith led Denver with 33 points, while rookie Bobby Jones added 26. Smith scored 18 points in the first half, including 12 in the second quarter.
Both teams rested most of their frontline players. Pistons rookie Rodney Stuckey, the 15th overall draft pick this summer out of Eastern Washington, got his first start at guard and finished with 17 points.
The Pistons led 61-55 at halftime.
Maxiell, a third-year player from Cincinnati, led the Pistons in the first half with 11 points and six rebounds. He scored 10 points in the third to spark the Pistons to a 94-89 lead heading into the final quarter.
The Pistons were without guard Richard Hamilton, who left Sunday's game against Denver in Auburn Hills midway through the third quarter after spraining his left ankle. Also out with injuries were Nazr Mohammed (sore left calf) and Amir Johnson (sprained left ankle). Chauncey Billups also sat out the game for Detroit.
Denver was without many of its top players, including Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson, Kenyon Martin and Nene. The Nuggets lost to the Pistons 109-106 Sunday, also without those four players.
No comments:
Post a Comment