AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – In the NBA, lineups are categorized like shirts. Big. Small. Extra small. The Nuggets play big, in size, to start games. They needed to play big, in physicality, on Saturday night.
It didn’t start out that way.
But it did for the Pistons, who fought every screen, bumped every cutter, doubled the ball in the post and short corner, kept hands on the ball-handlers and physically contested nearly every shot. It was the driving force behind a big, early lead that two hours later ended up a 103-86 Pistons victory at the Palace of Auburn Hills.