Nuggets clinch Northwest Division with dominant win over Pistons

Denver Nuggets secured a convincing 119-100 victory over Detroit Pistons on Thursday evening, to clinch the Northwest Division with a couple of cames to spare.

First to clinch in the West ☑️
Northwest Division Title ☑️

WE’RE IN pic.twitter.com/1P8DNsFhh5

— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) March 17, 2023

Nikola Jokic scored 30 points and had 10 rebound and 9 assists; Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 20 points, while Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon had 19 and 15, respectively.

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“This has to be a building block,” Denver coach Michael Malone said after the game.

“I told our team, it’s a good win. Clinched a playoff spot. Won your division. That’s great. Let this be the start of something special. We lost four in a row, lowest of the low for us during this season. Now, let’s get back to playing and go on a run.”

The Pistons made life difficult for the Nuggets in the first three quarters, at one point even leading with 7 points.

The Denver squad, however, pulled their act together and showed just why they are champions material with the team leading with double digits midway through the forth quarter. They never looked like losing and finished off the game in style.

Rodney McGruder scored 20 for the Pistons, who have now lost 12 out of their last 13 games, the worst record in the current NBA season. Detroit rookies Jalen Duren had 15 points and 13 assists, while Jaden Ivey added 14 points and six assists.

Nuggets play New York Knicks on Saturday afternoon, while Pistons face Miami at home on Sunday night.