NBA: Nikola Jokić continues MVP pace in Nuggets narrow win

The Denver Nuggets escaped with a 110-105 win over the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on Tuesday night as Nikola Jokić continued to play at an MVP level. Jokić was dominant from the opening tip, compiling 28 points, 21 rebounds and nine assists as Denver improved to 26-21. The reigning league MVP became the only player in NBA history to record 5,000 rebounds and 3,000 assists within their first 500 games. Jokić also picked up his 8th career 20-20 game, the most in Nuggets franchise history. Cade Cunningham did all he could to keep the Pistons within striking distance, scoring a career-high 34 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, four blocks and two steals in the loss.

Cunningham joined some elite company with the historic performance on Tuesday, joining Michael Jordan and Allen Iverson as the only rookies in league history to lead their team in all six major statistical categories. Cunningham and Jordan are the only two players to record those particular numbers in their first season. The 6'7 point guard almost singlehandily brought Detroit back from a double digit deficit, scoring seven straight points in the fourth quarter including a smooth pull-up 3-pointer to cut Denver's lead to 99-96 with 5:33 left but Jokić immediately responded with a triple of his own to extend the advantage. Despite nearly blowing a 15-point lead, the Nuggets held on for a 5th consecutive win over the Pistons.

Jokić wasn't the only Denver big man to play at a high level as Aaron Gordon and Jeff Green consistently contributed too. Gordon put up 16 points, five assists and five rebounds, while Green added 20 points and four rebounds in the win against Detroit. Both forwards had impressive rim-rattling dunks in the first half as well. Monte Morris and Austin Rivers combined for 22 points and five assists after starting in the backcourt with Jamal Murray ruled out for the season. Saddiq Bey scored 21 points on 3/6 shooting from beyond the arc for the Pistons, who dropped to 11-36 following the loss. Jokić has been absolutely unstoppable recently and could snatch a second consecutive MVP if he can keep up his current pace.

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Photo Credit: Getty Images.