Field Level Media
Aug 19, 2012
Thon Maker drilled a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 17.1 seconds remaining, and the visiting Detroit Pistons held on to beat the Atlanta Hawks 125-122 on Friday night.
Maker took a pass from Reggie Jackson and calmly made the trey, his third of the night, giving him nine points for the game.
The Hawks had two shots to tie the score. Trae Young missed a 3-point attempt with 10.5 seconds left. Atlanta's John Collins grabbed the rebound and found Vince Carter, who missed with five seconds to go. Andre Drummond cleared the rebound for the Pistons as the horn sounded.
Jackson had 32 points, five rebounds and eight assists as the Pistons won for the fifth time in six games. Drummond had 26 points and 21 rebounds, and Blake Griffin scored 15 before being ejected in the third quarter.
Atlanta, which has lost five of its past six, got 30 points and 10 assists from Young. Collins added 19 points and six rebounds, Carter came off the bench to score 16, and Dewayne Dedmon contributed and 14 points and 12 rebounds.
The Pistons tied the score at 122-122 on a pair of free throws by Drummond with 43.7 seconds remaining. Drummond had made a hook shot on the previous possession to draw Detroit to within a basket.
Young missed a jumper that was rebounded by Jackson with 29.4 seconds left. The Pistons called timeout to set up what proved to be Maker's game-winner.
The Pistons led by as many as 11 points in the third quarter, but the Atlanta reserves got the hosts back in the game. Carter made a 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds left in the third to cut the deficit to 100-95.
The Pistons had to play the final quarter without Griffin, who was tossed out after receiving two technical fouls. Griffin got the first technical after he pushed Atlanta center Dedmon as a skirmish under the basket led to a minor dustup with 4:56 left in the third.
Griffin got the second technical after he drained a 3-pointer 35 seconds later and said something to the official on his way back down the court.
The Hawks led 70-68 at the half.
Atlanta played the game without guard Kevin Huerter, who could miss two games due to a sprained ankle.
--Field Level Media