Jamal Murray scored 26 points and Nikola Jokic had a triple-double with 23 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists as the Denver Nuggets brushed aside the visiting Detroit Pistons 120-113 on Thursday night.

Will Barton added 23 points for Denver, which won for the fifth time in eight March games. The Nuggets and the Los Angeles Clippers are both one game behind the Utah Jazz and the San Antonio Spurs, who are tied for the seventh and eighth Western Conference playoff positions.

Blake Griffin had 26 points, nine assists and six boards while Dwight Buycks added 22 points and Andre Drummond totaled 21 points and 17 rebounds for the Pistons.

Reggie Bullock returned after a one-game absence caused by a back injury. He finished with 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting in 35 minutes for Detroit, which lost for the sixth time in seven games this month.

The Pistons trail Miami by 5 1/2 games for the East's final playoff spot.

Denver was up 65-51 at halftime and led by as many as 26 points before Detroit got hot from 3-point range with seven treys in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 98-84 entering the fourth.

A pair of Buycks free throws brought the Pistons within 102-97 with 6:55 remaining. Back-to-back buckets from Gary Harris capped by a three-point play with 6:22 to go restored the Nuggets' lead to 10.

Buycks' jumper with 1:20 on the clock had Detroit within 113-107 before Barton's driving layup 19 seconds later put Denver up eight.

Griffin's 3-pointer with 18.9 seconds left gave Detroit momentary life before Murray hit two free throws with 17 seconds left to seal the win.

--Field Level Media