Nuggets cruise past Pistons late

Lawson pumps in 26 points

12/12/2012

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Ty Lawson had 26 points, seven assists and five rebounds to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 101-94 win over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night.

Corey Brewer added 15 points and Andre Iguodala had 12 points and eight rebounds for the Nuggets, who rallied from a slow start in which they trailed by as many as 17 in the first quarter. JaVale McGee also had 12 points for Denver.

Brandon Knight had 20 points and five assists for the Pistons.

Jason Maxiell added 18 points, six blocks and six rebounds, and Rodney Stuckey scored 17 points.

Danilo Gallinari hit a 3-pointer with 1:48 left to give the Nuggets a 96-89 lead before Lawson's driving layup with 1:15 remaining pushed it to 98-89.

After Stuckey pulled the Pistons within two on a layup with 7:27 remaining, Andre Miller's three-point play with 7:11 left and Brewer's 3-pointer with 6:45 to go put the Nuggets up 82-74.

Lawson's driving floater at the buzzer gave Denver a 72-66 lead after three quarters. The Nuggets led 48-42 at the half after outscoring the Pistons 31-17 in the second quarter — including 20-6 in the finals seven minutes of the first half.

McGee's breakaway dunk tied it at 41 with 3:17 left in the second and Lawson hit a layup with 2:12 remaining in the first half to give Denver its first lead of the game, 43-41.

Detroit raced off to fast start and led 21-4 with 5:22 left in the first quarter after Greg Monroe hit a pair of free throws.

NOTES: It was the fourth game of a five-game road trip for Denver, which has also played seven of its last eight on the road. "It seems like it has been a six-week road trip," Nuggets coach George Karl said before the game. "Might have been."