Detroit Pistons Gameday: How will Pistons cope with 4th game in 5 nights?

Can Detroit Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey point the way to a win over the Denver Nuggets tonight? (Photo by AP Photo)
• Who: Detroit Pistons (7-16) vs. Denver Nuggets (10-11)
• TV: Fox Sports Detroit
• Latest spread: Nuggets -5 1/2 (202)


It's typically the most difficult scheduling situation in the NBA, excluding the back-to-back-to-back spots necessitated by last year's lockout, and the Detroit Pistons face it for the second time when they play their fourth game in five nights tonight against the Nuggets.

It wasn't exactly a formula for success last time, when the Pistons stayed competitive in Houston until midway through the third quarter, at which point the Rockets pulled away for a 96-82 win on Nov. 10.

With tonight's game at home, do the Pistons have a better chance of surviving the grueling endurance test?


In a word, yes.  In a sentence, yes, but in no way does that suggest they are likely to do so against the Nuggets, who won the first meeting 109-97 Nov. 6 at Denver.

Beyond the scheduling challenge, the Pistons are a little hobbled.  Brandon Knight continues to play with a long legging to support a bruised left thigh and Tayshaun Prince is playing through a knee issue which leaves him limping after practices and games.  While playing through pain is admirable, it certainly takes a toll, particularly at the end of a difficult scheduling stretch.

On the upside for the Pistons, while the Nuggets very well may prove to be Western Conference sleepers, they are suffering heavily from road fatigue.  They are in the midst of a five-game road trip and have played 15 of their 21 games on the road.  They have played consecutive home games once and won't do it again until January.


Are the Pistons any better equipped to handle a fourth game in five days than when they flopped at Houston earlier this season?