DENVER — Tayshaun Prince and Aaron Afflalo ensured Allen Iverson’s return to Denver was a success.

Prince hit a running jumper with 20 seconds left, Afflalo hit six straight free throws after that, and the Detroit Pistons overcame 30 points by Chauncey Billups to beat the Nuggets 93-90 on Friday night in Allen Iverson’s return to the Mile High city.

Iverson, making his first appearance in Denver since being traded to Detroit for Billups, Antonio McDyess and Cheikh Samb on Nov. 3, led the Pistons with 23 points — 20 in the second half. He said his return to Denver was special.

“It was emotional being that I had so many memories here. I felt like this was going to be the place that I would finish my career,” he said. “I felt good about my chances of winning my championship here.

“I felt like I was at home. It didn’t feel like it was a road game.”

Billups, who spent six years in Detroit and was the 2004 NBA finals MVP when he led the Pistons to the title, enjoyed facing his old team.

“It’s fun when you get to hook up with your buddies and compete,” he said. “At some point of the game you try to win.”

The Nuggets were poised for their sixth straight victory when they led 84-78 with 3:48 left, but the Pistons rallied. They got within one on two free throws by Afflalo with 2:53 left, and after Billups’ layup, Iverson fed Jason Maxiell for a dunk with 1:48 left to cut the lead to 86-85.

The teams traded missed shots before Prince hit a running 9-footer with 20 seconds left to give Detroit its first lead of the game.

“I knew if I just got the ball off some movement I would get a good look because they were doubling,” Prince said.

On the ensuing possession, McDyess, who was bought out by the Nuggets after the trade, stripped J.R. Smith with 10.5 seconds left.

Smith was fouled by Iverson and had a chance to tie the game with three free throws with 5.5 seconds left, but he missed the first one before hitting the next two.

In other games on Friday:

Cavaliers 98

Celtics 83

CLEVELAND — LeBron James scored 38 points, harassed Paul Pierce all over the floor and strengthened his case to be the league’s MVP front-runner as Cleveland improved to 19-0 at home by beating staggering Boston.

Raptors 103

Grizzlies 82

TORONTO — Chris Bosh had 32 points and 10 rebounds and Andrea Bargnani added 21 points in Toronto’s victory.

Magic 121

Hawks 87

ORLANDO, Fla. — Hedo Turkoglu hit all five three-point attempts, scoring 21 points in a game Orlando led by 38 at halftime.

76ers 93

Bobcats 87

PHILADELPHIA — Andre Miller scored 22 points, Thaddeus Young had 15 and Philadelphia won its third straight game.

Bulls 98

Wizards 86

CHICAGO — Ben Gordon scored 22 points and Chicago hung on after watching a 21-point lead dwindle to seven in the fourth quarter.

Rockets 98

Thunder 96

OKLAHOMA CITY — Tracy McGrady scored 26 points and made two critical free throws with 8.2 seconds left to help Houston win its second straight road game.

Hornets 107

Clippers 80

NEW ORLEANS — Rasual Butler scored a season-high 27 points, and New Orleans handed the Los Angeles Clippers their 10th straight loss.

Bucks 104

Nets 102

MILWAUKEE — Luke Ridnour’s 5-foot floater with 0.5 seconds left lifted the Bucks to a victory over New Jersey.

Suns 128

Mavericks 100

PHOENIX — Shaquille O’Neal had 25 points and 10 rebounds and Phoenix used a third-quarter scoring deluge to bury Dallas.

Lakers 121

Pacers 119

LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant made a tiebreaking jumper with 3 seconds left and scored the Lakers’ last 11 points, giving Los Angeles a victory over Indiana.

Heat 119

Kings 115

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Dwyane Wade scored nine of his 41 points in overtime to help Miami outlast Sacramento.