DETROIT – The way Denver protected the basketball Tuesday night, you would’ve thought it was doused in motor oil. Yet despite coughing the ball up 25 times, some in comical fashion, Nikola Jokic refused to let the Nuggets lose. Denver’s 110-105 win over the Pistons was a showcase game of his dominance, but not one for the Nuggets to cherish. “It’s hard to beat your opponent while you’re beating yourself,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said.