The Detroit Pistons got back on the winning track Saturday, though it got scary at the end. They’ll look to build off that performance when they host the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night.
Detroit’s 13-game winning streak ended at Boston on Wednesday, then the Pistons lost a tight game at home to Orlando on Friday. Both of the games counted toward the NBA Cup in-season tournament.
They bounced back the following night in Miami, holding off the Heat’s late charge to capture a 138-135 victory. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff was just happy to get out with the win after his team nearly gave away a 22-point advantage in the fourth quarter.
“You think about what these guys did over the last four to five days,” Bickerstaff said. “They played back-to-back Cup games. Get on a plane at midnight and fly three hours, and then get to the hotel at four in the morning, and then come out here and win a basketball game. That’s the most important thing.
“Sometimes you just got to get the win, and we got the win,” he added.
Cade Cunningham led the way with 29 points and eight assists, but the All-Star guard also committed eight turnovers for the second straight game.
Tobias Harris supplied a season-high 26 points for the Pistons. Duncan Robinson, playing against his former team for the first time, tossed in 18 points.
“From a competitive aspect, as much as I love those guys, I really wanted to win this one,” said Robinson, who was acquired from the Heat in a sign-and-trade transaction over the summer.
Detroit will be facing Atlanta for the second time in two weeks. The Pistons won the first meeting in Atlanta, 120-112, on Nov. 18. Cunningham had 25 points and 10 assists, and center Jalen Duren contributed 24 points and eight rebounds. Duren missed the game on Saturday in Miami due to a leg injury.
The Hawks will be playing the second game of a back-to-back set on Monday.
They went to double overtime in Philadelphia and defeated the Sixers, 142-134. Jalen Johnson carried them to the win with a career-high 41 points along with 14 rebounds and seven assists. Nickeil Alexander-Walker also had a huge outing with 34 points as Atlanta won for the fourth time of its last five games.
“It was more about perseverance than it was about poise,” Hawks coach Quin Snyder said. “But when we didn’t have poise and we made mistakes, we were able to move forward and made enough plays when it counted. It was a gritty game for our group.”
Johnson bounced back from a season-low seven points in a 132-113 loss at Washington on Tuesday with two All-Star level performances. He racked up 29 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists in the 130-123 victory over Cleveland on Friday.
“He’s doing the same things,” Snyder said. “Making quick decisions, not hesitating to shoot the ball when he’s open, which sets up a lot of other things. … He’s as happy as anyone about the win because he’s the guy we’re playing through late in the game.”
