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Nuggets win in Detroit for first time in almost 16 years

Jan 27, 2011 - 6:30 AM Auburn Hills, MI (Sports Network) - Chauncey Billups scored 26 and hit four big three-pointers in the final three-plus minutes, helping the Nuggets snap a 14-game road skid against the Pistons with a 109-100 victory at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Billups, who spent six full seasons with the Pistons, had 14 points in the last quarter, assisting Denver to its first away victory over Detroit since March 10, 1995. The veteran guard finished the game 6-of-9 from beyond the arc.

Carmelo Anthony filled the stat sheet with 18 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for the Nuggets, who have won three in a row overall and seven of their last nine games. Arron Afflalo ended with 17 points, followed by 13 for Shelden Williams and 10 from Al Harrington.

Will Bynum scored all but two of his 19 points in the last quarter for the Pistons, who had won their previous two contests. Ben Gordon scored 15, while Tracy McGrady ended with 14 points, eight assists and six boards. Greg Monroe also scored 14 in defeat.

"I knew somebody was going to have to make some shots because they got the momentum going well," Billups said. "Will played great, he was making plays. He made his jump shots and I knew somebody else had to make a couple of plays. They came to zone in on 'Melo and that's the opportunities that I love."

The Pistons played the final three quarters without guard Rodney Stuckey, who sustained a right shoulder contusion. He was on defense when he ran into the shoulder of Denver's Carmelo Anthony, who was setting a screen. The injury occurred with 1:37 left in the opening quarter. X-rays taken on Stuckey's shoulder were negative.

Harrington's three-pointer widened Denver's lead to 85-76 early in the fourth, but the Pistons rallied to within one, the last time with 3:15 left at 92-91 on a Bynum layup. Billups, though, took over by responding with a three- ball with 3:01 left, and Anthony added a three-point play for a 98-91 cushion.

Bynum's layup had Detroit within five with 1:28 to go, but Billups stemmed the tide with a dagger from the top of the arc for a 103-95 difference. He added two more long distance shots to seal the victory.

"They have a lot of scoring power," Pistons coach John Kuester said. "I thought we took care of the ball throughout the game, but give them credit, they made some big shots, especially when we made it tight."

Williams scored 10 points in the opening quarter, helping Denver to a 29-24 lead after 12 minutes, this despite the Nuggets giving up the game's first nine points. Denver was up by as many as 13 in the second before going to the half with a 56-50 edge. The visitors were ahead 80-74 going to the fourth.

Game Notes

Charlie Villanueva, who missed the previous two games due to a sprained left ankle, had 11 points for the Pistons...Detroit guard Richard Hamilton sat out ninth straight game, this time due to the flu...Nuggets center Nene was sidelined because of a calf injury. It was the first game he missed since December 29 and only the fifth time he has been sidelined this season...Tayshaun Prince scored 10 for the Pistons.