(Sports Network) - Allen Iverson will return to the Pepsi Center for the first time since being traded earlier this season as the Detroit Pistons continue a four-game road trip Friday in the Rocky Mountains against the Denver Nuggets.

Iverson was sent to the Motor City on November 3 for a package that included point guard Chauncey Billups.

The Nuggets have flourished since the blockbuster deal, compiling a 24-9 record with Billups at the controls. Meanwhile, things have been a bit rockier for Detroit, which struggled early on with Iverson in the lineup but have taken off recently, recording a 17-12 mark with "The Answer."

Billups is averaging 18.3 points and 6.9 assists since the deal while Iverson, who is usually one of the NBA's most prolific scorers, is netting just 18.1 points and dealing out 5.7 assists per contest.

The Pistons fell to 1-1 on their trip Wednesday when Portland's Travis Outlaw drained a fade-away jumper with 8.9 seconds remaining to lift the Trail Blazers to an 84-83 triumph over Detroit, snapping the Pistons' seven-game winning streak.

Tayshaun Prince dropped 26 points and hauled in eight rebounds while Iverson provided 14 points and seven assists for Detroit, which fell to 9-7 as the visitor this season. Rodney Stuckey scored 13 and dished out seven helpers in the loss.

The Pistons were without the services of both Rasheed Wallace (foot) and Rip Hamilton (groin). Wallace is listed a questionable for tonight's contest while Hamilton remains doubtful.

Detroit will finish its trek in Utah on January 10.

The Nuggets, meanwhile, improved to 3-0 on a season-long, seven-game homestand when Linas Kleiza stepped up in Carmelo Anthony's absence and was one of three Denver players to record 21 points, as the Nuggets got by Miami, 108-97.

Kleiza, who started in place of Anthony, also logged seven rebounds while J.R. Smith sparked Denver down the stretch with two key baskets, part of his 21- point effort.

Billups completed the 21-point scoring trifecta while also dishing out six assists for Denver, which played for the first time without its star forward in Anthony, who is expected to miss 3-to-4 weeks after suffering a nondisplaced third metacarpal fracture on his right hand in Monday's triumph over Indiana.

The Nuggets, who are off to the best start since their inaugural NBA season in 1976-77, improved to a gaudy 14-4 at the Pepsi Center and won their fifth straight game overall. Kenyon Martin and Nene provided 14 points each, with the former logging eight rebounds and the latter six in the win.

Denver will also face Dallas, Phoenix and Orlando on its homestand.

The Pistons swept the home-and-home series between the two clubs last season have won four straight and 13 of their last 15 over the Nuggets.