LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Cade Cunningham scored 29 points as the Detroit Pistons held off a late rally from the Denver Nuggets to seal a 124-121 victory in their heavyweight potential National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals preview on Tuesday.
Eastern Conference leaders Detroit looked to be cruising towards a comfortable win after surging into a 20-point lead early in the third quarter after a 37-point second period.
But Denver star Nikola Jokic rallied with 10 points in the third quarter and Jamal Murray poured in 14 points in the fourth to reduce the Pistons’ lead to single digits in the final minutes.
Cunningham though was equal to the challenge, draining two crucial late free throws to give Detroit a five-point lead with nine seconds remaining as the Pistons closed out the win.
Jamal Murray led Denver’s scoring with 32 points while Jokic finished with 24 points, 15 rebounds and four assists.
All five Detroit starters finished in double figures, with Cunningham supported by 20 points from Duncan Robinson — including six three-pointers — and Jalen Duren 19 points.