Hawks pull away late, send Pistons to 9th straight loss

Field Level Media|published: Tue 14th November, 21:46 2023

Nov 6, 2023; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder talks with Atlanta Hawks forward De'Andre Hunter (12) and guard Dejounte Murray (5) during a break in play against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second quarter at Paycom Center. credits: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

Dejounte Murray scored 32 points and dished out nine assists as the visiting Atlanta Hawks handed the Detroit Pistons their ninth straight loss, 126-120 on Tuesday.

Saddiq Bey supplied 19 points and Bogdan Bogdanovic tossed in 17 for the Hawks in their NBA in-season tournament opener. Atlanta's De'Andre Hunter and Jalen Johnson contributed 16 apiece.

The Hawks, who finished the game with a 10-3 run, played without star guard Trae Young, who missed the contest for personal reasons. The Pistons didn't have starting center Jalen Duren, who is nursing an ankle injury.

Marvin Bagley led Detroit with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Ausar Thompson had 21 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals for the Pistons, who are 0-2 in the tournament.

Alec Burks added 16 points, but Detroit star Cade Cunningham was limited to nine points (on 4-of-14 shooting) and 12 assists.

Atlanta led by as much as 12 in the early going but settled for a 64-60 halftime advantage. Murray piled up 17 points and five assists prior to the break, and Bogdanovic had 15 first-half points.

Detroit began the second half with an 8-2 run, including a pair of Bagley baskets. A Thompson layup soon increased Detroit's lead to five.

The Hawks moved back on top 84-81 when Hunter fired in a 3-pointer. Murray made a short jumper with three minutes left in the quarter for a five-point lead.

Bey drained a 3-pointer a minute later for a 93-85 edge. Atlanta carried a 97-91 lead into the fourth.

A steal by Murray and layup by Bey upped the lead to 105-96.

Cunningham knocked down a 3-pointer with just under seven minutes left to cut the Pistons' deficit to 107-103.

A Cunningham layup with 5 1/2 minutes left made it a one-point spread. The Hawks clung to the lead until Kevin Knox's fastbreak dunk gave Detroit a 117-116 advantage with two minutes to go.

Hunter answered with a jumper, and after a Cunningham miss, Murray set up Clint Capela for a dunk with just under a minute to play.

Another empty Pistons possession was followed by two Murray free throws to make it 122-117 with 30 seconds left.

—Field Level Media