Pistons trying for more home cooking when they playing the Nuggets

Impressive back-to-back wins should have the Detroit Pistons’ confidence on the rise. Their recent history at home against their next opponent should only reinforce that.

After escaping with a 75-74 win over Phoenix on Saturday, Detroit held on for a 103-96 victory at Orlando on Monday thanks in part to 20 points from former two-time scoring champion Tracy McGrady.

The Pistons (17-28) won for the fifth time in seven games since coach John Kuester inserted McGrady into the starting lineup at point guard.
Tayshaun Prince, averaging 14.8 points on the season, also recorded 20 in the win. The Pistons are 8-1 against Denver when Prince scores more than 10 points.

Detroit’s recent success has come without Richard Hamilton, who was held out by Kuester for the eighth straight game. Hamilton is averaging 21.3 points in his last four games against Denver (26-18).

Chauncey Billups, who spent six-plus seasons with the Pistons before getting traded to Denver in 2008, has scored 27.5 points in four games against his former team since the deal.

The Nuggets have struggled offensively in Detroit, averaging 89.2 points during the 14-game skid, but they enter this contest scoring 117.0 in their last eight games overall.

Carmelo Anthony scored 23 points to help the Nuggets snap a three-game road losing streak. The three-time All Star, averaging 29.3 points his last four games, had been limited to 15.4 on 35.4 percent shooting in his first five visits to Detroit before scoring 40 in the most recent one.