The Denver Nuggets (31-15, 3rd in the Western Conference) host the Detroit Pistons (33-11, 1st in the Eastern Conference) on Tuesday (9 p.m. ET, NBA League Pass) at Ball Arena.
These two teams will collide after resting on Monday, and both are coming off victories. The Nuggets defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, 102-100, on Friday and have won two games in a row, while the Pistons extended their lead at the top of the Eastern Conference with a 139-116 win over the Sacramento Kings on Saturday. The Pistons have won four of their last five overall. Here are three key storylines to know heading into this matchup Saturday.
1. Denver depth to be put to the test: When the 2025-26 season started, the Nuggets’ starting five featured Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Cameron Johnson, Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokić. Fast forward to this matchup on January 27, and there’s a chance none of those five players will be available to face Detroit. Jokić (knee), Cameron Johnson (knee), Braun (ankle) and Gordon (hamstring) have already been confirmed as out, while Murray (hamstring) is probable. Two other valuable rotation pieces, such as Jonas Valančiūnas (calf) and Peyton Watson (ankle), are probable. This has forced the Nuggets’ coaching staff to experiment with lineups, meaning players like Jalen Pickett, Spencer Jones, Tim Hardaway and Zeke Nnaji have been playing more minutes than initially predicted. Tuesday’s game will be a big test for this group, as Detroit ranks second in the NBA in net rating at 7.5, trailing only the Oklahoma City Thunder (12.6).
2. Cade Cunningham’s MVP case: This year’s MVP race is starting to take shape and Detroit’s Cade Cunningham is firmly in the mix. He’s averaging 25.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 9.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 45.5% from the floor and 32.7% from deep. He’s been the best player in the league’s second-best team, and the rise he’s had since the beginning of the 2024-25 campaign until now has been a huge factor in Detroit’s resurgence. Cunningham has missed just six games this season, giving him an 11-game buffer to still be eligible for end-of-season awards. There’s still plenty of season left and some other big-time candidates like reigning MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Luka Dončić. Still, Cunningham is putting up MVP-caliber performances each time he steps on the floor.
3. A clash of styles at Ball Arena: Tonight’s matchup will be a showcase of great offense vs great defense. Looking at the numbers, the Nuggets have built their 2025-26 success on the back of their offense and currently rank first in the NBA in Offensive Rating with a 121.0 mark, an incredible achievement considering that they’ve been playing without Jokić since Dec. 29. Meanwhile, the Pistons own the second-best defensive rating with a 108.6 rating, where the play of names such as Jalen Duren, Isaiah Stewart and Ausar Thompson has been absolutely key to their success. The fact that the Nuggets are missing several starters might make it tough for them against an elite defensive squad like Detroit, so it will be an interesting matchup to see which style of play ultimately prevails. The Pistons are healthier and have the best away record in the Eastern Conference (14-6).