Joseph turned in 18 points (7-9 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 2-2 FT), six assists, three rebounds and one steal in 28 minutes Sunday in the Pistons' 117-111 loss to the Nuggets.
Though Killian Hayes (hip) returned from a two-game absence, Joseph stuck in the starting five for the third game in a row and turned in some credible numbers. Joseph's stat line was propped up by some unsustainably hot shooting, however, and head coach Dwane Casey's decision to keep the veteran in the starting five may just have been designed for the Pistons to better manage Hayes' minutes coming off injury. Assuming the 11-35 Pistons' main focus for the second half of the season is developing younger players, Joseph will be a candidate to see a downsized role in the weeks to come.