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Lawson, Nuggets rally past Pistons

Dec 12, 2012 - 5:03 AM Auburn Hills, MI (Sports Network) - Ty Lawson and the Nuggets bench helped Denver overcome an early deficit and down the Detroit Pistons, 101-94, at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

The Nuggets trailed by 17 just 6:38 into the game, but quickly recovered and never trailed in the second half, thanks in part to Lawson scoring 26 points with seven assists and no turnovers.

Denver's reserves also contributed to the turnaround, as Corey Brewer had 15 points, JaVale McGee 12 and Andre Miller 11 with seven assists to pull the Nuggets even on their five-game road trip with one test remaining.

Jason Maxiell logged 18 points, six rebounds and six blocks for Detroit, while Brandon Knight and Rodney Stuckey added 20 and 17 points, respectively, in defeat.

The Pistons, playing the second game of a back-to-back after losing in Philadelphia on Monday, didn't have the legs to build off their strong start.

Denver connected on only one of its first 12 attempts from the field, and Detroit jumped out to a 21-4 lead as a result. The Pistons then went cold themselves, scoring just four points in the final five minutes and allowing the Nuggets to pull within 25-17 on Lawson's jumper in the lane just before the buzzer.

Detroit continued to struggle on the offensive end in a second quarter that saw the club turn it over eight times. The Nuggets took their first lead, 41-39, on McGee's third dunk in a six-possession span and ended the half on a 13-3 run to bring a 48-42 cushion into the locker room.

"We got off to a sluggish start...but we were able to find a way to get some energy in the game and force some turnovers and play Nuggets basketball," Miller said.

The lead never changed hands in the third and grew as high as 11. Lawson netted 12 in the frame, including a late driving bank shot for a 72-66 advantage heading to the fourth.

A Kyle Singler lay-in cut the deficit to 76-74 with 7:28 remaining, but that was as close as Detroit got. Miller answered with a three-point play at the other end, and after Corey Maggette was whistled for a charge, Brewer drained a 3-pointer to rebuild an eight-point advantage.

Danilo Gallinari's 3-pointer extended a 93-89 lead with under two minutes to go, and Lawson's bucket in the paint following two missed free throws by Maxiell sealed the win.

"In the fourth quarter we could not control the penetration off of the pick- and-roll," Pistons head coach Lawrence Frank said. "It's a game of runs; we just didn't have enough to get it done."

Game Notes

The Nuggets scored 20 points off 17 turnovers ... Pistons center Greg Monroe pulled down a game-high 12 points, but shot 1-of-9 from the floor ... Denver had lost 14 straight in Auburn Hills before winning in its last two trips ... The Nuggets have won five straight meetings, last losing on Dec. 10, 2009 ... The Pistons are 1-11 when allowing 100 points ... The Nuggets play again Wednesday at Minnesota, the final stop on their road swing ... Detroit is in action again Friday in Brooklyn.