NUGGETS 116, PISTONS 115: JaVale McGee dunked home a missed free throw with five seconds remaining to give host Denver an improbable victory over Detroit despite 45 points from Ben Gordon.

The Nuggets trailed by three points until Arron Afflalo scored with 5.6 seconds left and was fouled. Afflalo missed the free throw and McGee responded quickly to slam in the winning points.

Gordon tied the NBA record he already shared by going 9 for 9 from 3-point range, but missed a 21-foot attempt with one second left as the Pistons lost their third straight game.

Ty Lawson scored 25 points and Afflalo scored 23 for Denver, which led by 25 points early in the second quarter.

Gordon helped the Pistons recover from their early deficit with 21 second-quarter points. Gordon is the first NBA player to twice make nine 3-pointers in a game without a miss. Latrell Sprewell is the only other player to go 9 for 9 from 3-point range.

Detroit was 14 for 18 from 3-point range, falling one shy of the franchise record accomplished twice.

Al Harrington scored 16 points and McGee added 15 for the Nuggets, who shot 58.2 percent.

Brandon Knight added 16 points and Greg Monroe had 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Pistons.

Denver led 40-18 after the opening quarter and the lead grew to 25 points early in the second. Gordon hit five 3-point attempts in the quarter and had 27 points at intermission. Denver shot 64.9 percent in the half en route to a 62-57 lead.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Nuggets have yet to announce a timetable for the return of forward Danilo Gallinari (fractured thumb). … Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey (toe) missed the contest. … Denver guard Andre Miller had seven assists in 20 minutes despite playing with an injured shoulder. … Gordon had totaled only 42 points over Detroit’s previous six games and his scoring output was the franchise’s highest since Richard Hamilton scored 51 against the New York Knicks during the 2006-07 campaign.