Winning Pistons make free throws, Nuggets don’t at dramatic finish

Cade Cunningham had 22 points and 11 assists, Tobias Harris also scored 22 points, including two free throws with 2 seconds remaining, and the visiting Detroit Pistons beat the Denver Nuggets 109-107 on Tuesday night.

Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson scored 14 each, and Ronald Holland II and Javonte Green contributed 10 each for Detroit, which has won nine of its last 11.

Jamal Murray led Denver with 24 points but missed two free throws on separate trips to the foul line in the final seconds that could have sent the game to overtime.

Down 107-104, Murray was fouled on a 3-point attempt, missed the first free throw and made the next two for a one-point deficit. After Harris hit a pair at the other end, Murray again was fouled with 0.7 seconds left.

He made his first foul shot, missed the second and intentionally missed the third.

Jonas Valanciunas finished with 16 points and 16 rebounds, Bruce Brown also had 16 points, Tim Hardaway Jr. contributed 14, Peyton Watson had 13 and Spencer Jones added 12 for the Nuggets.

Denver has dropped three straight home games.

The Nuggets were playing for the first time since Friday night, an unscheduled break after their game at the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday was postponed due to inclement weather.

Denver spent three nights in Memphis after they could not fly out home until Monday morning.

Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon, who reinjured his right hamstring at Milwaukee a night later, did not play Tuesday night.

Detroit led by 11 early in the fourth, but the Nuggets chipped away and got within 95-90 on Watson's 10-footer with 5:25 remaining. Green scored off of an offensive rebound and Cunningham hit a short jumper to make it 99-92, but Murray's three-point play and later fallaway jumper cut it to 99-97.

Cunningham made a floater, Murray missed at the other end and Harris hit a layup to put the Pistons ahead 103-97 with 1:33 left.

After a timeout, Murray made another fadeaway, Cunningham missed a turnaround and Hardaway hit a 3-pointer to make it a one-point game with 56 seconds remaining.

Harris hit a turnaround jumper with 18 seconds left, setting up the final sequence.