Pistons Defeat Nuggets in Tight 124-121 Victory

All-Star Cade Cunningham leads Detroit with 29 points and 10 assists

Feb. 3, 2026 at 10:23pm

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The Detroit Pistons defeated the Denver Nuggets 124-121 in a close game on Tuesday night. All-Star Cade Cunningham had 29 points and 10 assists for the Pistons, while Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 32 points and 8 assists. The Pistons built a big lead in the first half but had to hold off a late Nuggets comeback attempt.

Why it matters

This win continues the Pistons' recent strong play, as they've now won 5 of their last 6 games. The Nuggets, meanwhile, are trying to maintain their position in the Western Conference playoff race. The game also featured a notable trade earlier in the day, with the Pistons acquiring Kevin Huerter and Dario Saric in a three-team deal.

The details

The Pistons jumped out to a big lead in the first half, outscoring the Nuggets 37-23 in the second quarter to take a 69-50 halftime advantage. Cade Cunningham had 17 points and 7 assists in the first half, while Nikola Jokic was held to just 7 points on 3-of-10 shooting. The Pistons extended their lead to 20 points early in the third quarter, but the Nuggets fought back to cut the deficit to 93-80 by the end of the period. Denver made it a two-possession game late, but the Pistons were able to hold on for the 124-121 victory.

  • The game took place on Tuesday, February 4, 2026.
  • The Pistons and Nuggets had previously met on January 27, 2026, with the Pistons winning 109-107 in Denver.

The players

Cade Cunningham

An All-Star guard for the Detroit Pistons who led the team with 29 points and 10 assists in the win.

Jamal Murray

An All-Star guard for the Denver Nuggets who scored a team-high 32 points and dished out 8 assists in the loss.

Nikola Jokic

The star center for the Denver Nuggets, who had 24 points and 15 rebounds in the game.

Jalen Duren

A key contributor for the Detroit Pistons, scoring 19 points and grabbing 13 rebounds.

Duncan Robinson

The Pistons' third-leading scorer with 20 points in the victory.

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What they’re saying

“We knew we had to come out strong against a tough Nuggets team. Cade set the tone early and our whole team stepped up to get this big win.”

— Jalen Duren, Pistons Forward (Detroit Free Press)

“We fought hard to get back in it, but the Pistons made the plays down the stretch to hold us off. We'll regroup and try to get this one back on our home court.”

— Jamal Murray, Nuggets Guard (Denver Post)

What’s next

The Nuggets will look to bounce back when they visit the New York Knicks on Wednesday night, while the Pistons will host the Washington Wizards on Thursday.

The takeaway

This was an impressive win for the Pistons, who continue to show they can compete with the top teams in the league. The trade acquisition of Huerter and Saric could provide a boost as they try to make a push for the playoffs in the Eastern Conference.