Denver, CO (My Sportsbook) - The Detroit Pistons play the fourth of a five- game western swing Thursday when they battle the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center.

Detroit has posted a strong 2-1 mark on the road trip so far, most recently edging the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, 80-78.

Richard Hamilton scored a game-high 28 points and Clifford Robinson added 16 to lead the Pistons.

Jon Barry netted 10 points, including a clutch three-pointer with less than a minute to go, and Ben Wallace contributed nine points and 15 rebounds for Detroit, which has won four of its first five games this season.

With 22 seconds to go and the score tied 75-75, Barry knocked down a three and the Pistons took the lead. John Stockton then missed an easy layup and Wallace made it a two-possession game with a free throw. Utah got some life back when Andrei Kirilenko drained a desperation three with 7.3 seconds left for a 79-78 score.

Barry then caught the inbounds pass and made just 1-of-2 from the line with six seconds remaining for an 80-78 lead. Mark Jackson's jumper in the final seconds caromed off the back of the iron and Detroit prevailed.

The Nuggets fell to 1-3 on the season by dropping a 103-87 decision to the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday. The teams were tied heading into the fourth quarter, but the Hawks outscored the Nuggets 29-14 in the final frame on the way to the win.

Juwan Howard had 25 points and 15 rebounds and James Posey added 21 points for the Nuggets. Howard played his first game of the year after serving a two-game suspension and then missing Saturday's contest at Portland with a stomach virus.

Nuggets point guard Chris Whitney sprained his left ankle with 5:42 remaining in the fourth quarter and did not return to the contest. He is questionable for Thursday's game. If he is unable to play, the Nuggets will start second- year player Kenny Satterfield at the point.

The Pistons won both meetings between these teams last season and have won three straight overall. Detroit has also won three of its last five at Denver.

Detroit is 2-1 on the road this season, while the Nuggets are 0-2 at home.