The Pistons should have worn their Hardwood Classics uniforms – the ones with the lightning bolts they wore in the ’70s. It was a game torn from the NBA’s no-defense era, one that might have challenged their game with Denver in 1983 as highest scoring in league history had they gone three overtimes like they did that night. Denver, coming in off a 168-pound scoring orgy against Seattle, surrendered 136. The Pistons set season highs in points, assists (42) and field goals (55). It was the most points in a game since the Pistons scored 136 against Orlando 18 years ago and their 73 first-half points were the most in any half in 12 years. Rip Hamilton scored 24 and Rasheed Wallace 21 as seven Pistons – three of them off the bench – scored in double figures. The Pistons fell behind by six points early, but led by 24 in the second quarter. Denver got within 10 late in the third quarter by scoring on 14 straight possessions, but the Nuggets could never slow down the Pistons, who wound up shooting 60 percent.

Team award. The Pistons shot 58 percent in the first half – and then they warmed up. Rip Hamilton scored 12 points in the third quarter. Rasheed Wallace gave the Pistons 13 before the fourth quarter was barely half over. They had seven players in double figures two minutes into the fourth quarter. All 11 players who played for the Pistons made at least half of their field-goal attempts.

Bench award. Led by Jarvis Hayes (17 points, giving him 46 over his last two), Rodney Stuckey (11 points, six assists) and Jason Maxiell (18 points, seven rebounds), Pistons reserves scored 36 points in the first half and 31 of the team’s 39 in the second quarter when the Pistons blew the game open by outscoring Denver by 13 points. Stuckey had nine points, four assists and three rebounds in the second quarter, Hayes eight points and Maxiell six points and four boards.

For a tean fighting for playoff survival, the Nuggets didn’t exactly play with a great sense of urgency. Denver coach George Karl even seemed disinterested, allowing the Pistons to go on runs of 8-0, 9-0 and 11-0 in the first half without calling a timeout. All-Star Carmelo Anthony didn’t have a point or a rebound until making two free throws with 3:24 left in the first half, by the time the Pistons held a 23-point lead. Allen Iverson (20 points) and Anthony (27) got aggressive offensively in the third quarter and combined to shoot 25 free throws, but they were a little late to the party.

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