Field Level Media
Feb 14, 2018
All five Detroit starters scored in double figures and the Pistons held off short-handed Atlanta in a 104-98 win Wednesday at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
Ish Smith had 22 points and Andre Drummond finished with 13 points and 15 rebounds for the Pistons, who led by as many as 30 in the second half, but had to withstand a furious Hawks' comeback in the fourth quarter.
Isaiah Taylor converted a three-point play that cut Detroit's lead to 100-96 with 13 seconds to play. But Smith and Stanley Johnson each hit a pair of free throws in the final seconds to seal the win for the Pistons, who snapped a three-game losing streak.
Reggie Bullock scored 15 points, Johnson had 14 points, and Blake Griffin added 13 points for Detroit.
Andrew White scored 15 points, Taurean Prince added 14 points, and Taylor finished with 13 points for the Hawks.
Detroit opened the second half with a 17-2 run to pull away from the Hawks, who were without veteran leaders Kent Bazemore and Dennis Schroder. Bazemore was held out for rest, and Schroder didn't play with a back issue. Without them, the Hawks couldn't keep up with a Detroit team they beat three days earlier in Atlanta.
The Hawks scored the game's first five points and caused Detroit coach Stan Van Gundy to call an early timeout. The Pistons got going from that point and led 22-14 after the first quarter.
Griffin hit a 3-pointer as time expired on the first half to give the Pistons a 45-33 lead at halftime. Smith led all scorers with 12 points in the first half. Griffin had 10 points in the first half.
Detroit took a commanding 82-61 lead into the fourth quarter. The Hawks got back within 12 with 4:36 to play.
Detroit heads into the All-Star Break in ninth place in the Eastern Conference standings. The Pistons return from the break to host Boston on Feb. 23.
The Hawks will play at Indiana on Feb. 23 in their first game back from the break and are in the Eastern Conference cellar.
--Field Level Media