The Hawks’ comeback fails, they lose to the Pistons 122-121

The Atlanta Hawks were in Detroit to take on the Pistons on Friday night. This was the Hawks’ first game in a row as they are back at home tomorrow to face the Chicago Bulls.

The Pistons began the season not playing like the Pistons of the past, and head coach JB Bickerstaff ensured the team played physical and competitive. The Hawks are still dealing with injuries but have been able to pull it off for now.

Zaccharie Risacher started the game by crashing the boards and making the floater work.

Dyson Daniels turned defense into offense with this simple layup.

The Pistons jumped out to a double-digit lead and the Hawks couldn’t do much on offense. Things didn’t get much better for them as the quarter went on, with the Pistons leading 40-23 at the end.

The second quarter didn’t start well for the Hawks either and the Hawks dug themselves deeper and deeper into the hole. The Hawks trailed by as many as 24 points, but midway through the game they began to weather the storm. Garrison Mathews was part of that run, getting a steal and turning it into points on the other end.

Later, more defense was converted into offense plays, with Dyson Daniels getting that steal and Trae Young completing it.

The Pistons went on a run and built their lead back to 20 points, but the Hawks were able to cut it to 13 by halftime. The Hawks came out with a lot more energy in the third quarter and reached single digits. Young continued to put up points for the Pistons, making this three-pointer to pass Isaiah Stewart.

The Pistons would extend their lead once again, but that didn’t bother the Hawks as they hampered the defense and continued to get after it, cutting their deficit to just three points. Jalen Johnson really started to get going in the third period and knocked down that three-pointer.

With less than a minute left, the Hawks began making more mental errors, and the Pistons extended their lead back to double digits by the fourth minute. The Hawks went on a 10-2 run midway through the fourth, knocking down big threes and getting key stops to cut the Pistons’ lead. Larry Nance Jr. came up big in the fourth, hitting several three-pointers and hitting a big dunk over two players.

Young continued his strong play and scored another three-pointer.

In the end, the Hawks tied the game, but the Pistons regained the lead, but Atlanta continued to fight. Dyson Daniels hit a big three-pointer with less than a minute to cut the Pistons’ lead to one point, and the Hawks got a stop on the other end. Young then came down, was fouled, knocked down both free throws and gave himself a one-point lead with 12.5 seconds left.

Cade Cunnigham came out of the timeout and gave the Pistons a basket and the lead back with 8.5 seconds left. That was enough time for the Hawks to get down and get a shot, and Young set up Onyeka Okongwu for a dunk that was unfortunately blocked from behind by Cunningham.

Young finished the game with 35 points and 13 assists, Johnson with 20 points and nine rebounds and Daniels with 18 points and seven steals.

The Hawks will be back at home against the Chicago Bulls on Saturday.