AUBURN HILLS, Michigan, Nov. 16 (Ticker) -- Only Clifford Robinson's big fourth quarter prevented the lowest-scoring game in the shot-clock era.

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Robinson scored 17 of his 19 points in the final quarter as the Detroit Pistons held the Denver Nuggets to the second-lowest total of the shot-clock era in a 74-53 victory.

The Nuggets had a 29-28 lead at halftime for the lowest scoring half since the inception of the shot clock in 1954. The teams combined for just 87 points through three quarters, but Robinson came to life in the final period.

Robinson made 5-of-6 shots and 7-of-7 free throws in the final period, outscoring the Nuggets by himself. His 17 points were two more than Denver scored in any quarter.

"I had them off balance a little. I was trying to be aggressive and once I got on a roll, it was academic," he said. "We did a really good job defensively. They played hard, but we stayed to our game plan and executed. There's always going to be games like this, but it doesn't matter if the wins are pretty or not."

"This guy has been an All-Star and Sixth Man of the Year," Detroit coach Rick Carlisle said. "I think he's going to be a strong candidate for Sixth Man of the Year again. Without him tonight, we probably do not win."

The lowest-scoring team in the NBA, Denver shot just 33 percent (21-of-64) from the floor and averted a dubious league record by four points. The Chicago Bulls managed just 49 points against the Miami Heat on April 10, 1999.

"It was tough and physical game and we just fell apart. We eventually cracked," Denver coach Jeff Bzdelik said. "When we cracked, it was a sign of immaturity. I knew it would be very difficult to score tonight. I know (the Nuggets) are young, but they have to grow up fast."

Richard Hamilton scored 15 points and Corliss Williamson added 12 for the Pistons, who remained unbeaten in five games at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Detroit shot just 42 percent (26-of-62), including 4-of-15 3-pointers, and made 18-of-27 free throws.

"Denver really has a sound, solid defensive team," Carlisle said. "We were lucky to win. We knew we were going to have to play great defense to have any chance tonight. Luckily we did and Corliss and Cliff got going a little in the second half."

Juwan Howard scored 12 points and Kenny Satterfield and Mark Blount added 11 each as the Nuggets lost for the fifth time in six games.

"Right now we have sometimes three people doing something and two people doing something else," Blount said. "We shouldn't worry about being young, we're professionals. We're just shooting ourselves in the foot."

Denver was swept in the two-game season series, averaging just 58 points and being outscored by a combined 47.

Denver had a 41-38 lead before Detroit scored the final eight points of the third quarter. Hamilton scored five points during the burst, giving the Pistons the lead for good on a dunk with 2:12 remaining.

Detroit had a 51-43 lead when Robinson went on a tear, scoring nine points in a 2:16 span. He buried a jumper with 4:58 left for a 62-47 cushion.

Satterfield made it 63-52 on a jumper with 3:37 to go, but the Nuggets scored just one point thereafter on a free throw by Chris Andersen.