• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Iverson makes return as Nuggets eye sixth straight win

Jan 9, 2009 - 11:44 AM Detroit (21-12) at Denver (25-12), 9:00 p.m. EST

DENVER (Ticker) -- The NBA's biggest trade of the season has turned out to be a pretty good one for the Denver Nuggets. On Friday, Allen Iverson will have a chance to see first hand how the team has done since his departure.

Iverson makes his return to Denver as the Nuggets host the Detroit Pistons.

Since acquiring Iverson for Chauncey Billups on November 6, Denver has gone 24-9 and won its last five contests.

In over a season and a half with the Nuggets, Iverson helped Denver make the postseason twice but failed to deliver a playoff series win. The 33-year-old averaged 26.4 points while playing in all 82 games last season.

Despite Iverson's unquestioned scoring ability, Billups has brought better stability to the point guard position and is averaging 18.3 points and 6.9 assists with the Nuggets.

Billups had 21 points as the Nuggets posted a 108-97 victory over Miami on Wednesday. It was Denver's first contest without Carmelo Anthony, who is expected to miss three to four weeks with a broken bone in his shooting hand.

Detroit is 17-12 since the trade but had won a season-high seven straight games before an 84-83 defeat at Portland on Wednesday. Detroit played without Rasheed Wallace (foot) and Richard Hamilton (groin).

Tayshaun Prince scored 26 points to lead the Pistons, who missed a chance to win the game when Iverson's fallaway jumper bounced off the rim.