NBA Game Recap - Atlanta at Detroit
Sun Dec 23, 2018 4:00 PM EST

ATL
98
DET
95
F
WAS
89
IND
105
F
NO
117
SAC
122
F
MIA
115
ORL
91
F
PHO
103
BKN
111
F
CHI
112
CLE
92
F
CHA
103
BOS
119
F
MIN
114
OKC
112
F
LAC
127
GS
129
F
DAL
118
POR
121
F(OT)
MEM
107
LAL
99
F

Dec 23, 2018, 4:00 PM EST

Final

1

2

3

4

T

Atlanta

28

29

22

19

98

Detroit

21

22

23

29

95

Griffin misses late FTs, Hawks beat Pistons 98-95
Sun Dec 23, 2018 7:59 PM

DETROIT (AP) The Detroit Pistons thought they had the right big guy on the line.

With 23 seconds left and trailing the Atlanta Hawks by a point, it was Blake Griffin with two free throws instead of Andre Drummond, one of the worst free-throw shooters in league history.

Griffin missed both shots, and the Hawks held on for a 98-95 victory Sunday.

"I have to be better than that," he said. "We fought back to give ourselves a chance to win the game, and I missed the shots."

The Hawks led by as many as 17 before Detroit's late rally and won their third straight to improve to 9-23. Alex Len had 15 points and a season-high 17 rebounds, while Vince Carter scored a season-best 18.

Atlanta was playing without leading scorer John Collins because of an ankle injury.

"We were missing John tonight, so we had a unique opportunity to start two centers in Dewayne (Dedmon) and Alex," Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce said. "Alex embraced it and took advantage of it."

Facing Drummond, one of the best rebounders in the league, Len had eight offensive boards and held Drummond to two.

"Blake and Andre both had a lot of missed shots, and we were able to grab them and score on our own misses," Len said. "I think our defense really kept us in the game."

Detroit has lost nine of 11. Langston Galloway led the Pistons with 18, and Drummond had 13 points and 15 rebounds.

"We talked before the game about having to have a good approach in a game like this, playing just before Christmas against a team with a bad record," Pistons coach Dwane Casey said. "We had that attitude in the fourth quarter, but you can't win a game by playing one quarter."

After Griffin's misses, Jeremy Lin hit two foul shots to stretch the lead, Reggie Jackson dunked for the Pistons, and Lin hit two more free throws to make it 96-93. Galloway missed a layup, and the Hawks locked it up from the line.

Carter had 14 points in the first half while Atlanta led by as many as 17.

"The OG, Vince Carter, put down the walker," Dedmon said. "He dropped it and had a big game. So did Alex, because we needed people to step up and replace John."

A late 3-pointer by Griffin helped the Pistons to narrow the margin to 57-43 at the break. Atlanta outshot Detroit 51.3 percent to 43.9 percent and got 13 points off 11 turnovers.

"We're trying to get out of this slump, but we have to have more energy," Galloway said. "We can't only play hard in the fourth."

The Pistons got within nine early in the third, but back-to-back tip-ins by Len kept the Hawks comfortably ahead.

Galloway hit back-to-back 3-pointers to pull the Pistons within 83-75 with 8:55 to play. He was the only Piston to score in the first 6:16 of the quarter, but his 14 points narrowed the gap to 85-80.

Zaza Pachulia's tip made it 88-85 with 3:17 left, and two free throws by Griffin got the Pistons within one.

Carter answered with a fall-away basket, but Galloway scored over Len to make it 90-89. After misses on both ends, Lin's reverse layup put the Hawks up three with 1:22 to play.

Jackson's free throws cut the lead to 92-91 and Pachulia stole the ball from Lin, but Griffin couldn't hit the ensuing shots from the line.

TIP-INS

Hawks: Len was only the ninth player to have eight or more offensive rebounds against the Pistons in the past five seasons. ... The Hawks had lost six of eight to Detroit but posted their first victory at Little Caesars Arena.

Pistons: Detroit is third in the NBA in offensive rebounds, mostly thanks to Drummond, but only had five to Atlanta's 15 on Sunday. ... Luke Kennard started at small forward but sat out the second half with both knees wrapped in ice.

UP NEXT

Hawks: At Indiana on Wednesday.

Pistons: Host Washington on Wednesday.

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Leaders

Atlanta PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
V. Carter 18 11 2 7 0 0
A. Len 15 -2 1 17 1 3
Detroit PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
L. Galloway 18 7 0 2 0 0
R. Jackson 16 3 5 1 0 0

Team Comparison

ATL DET
Points For 98 95
Field Goals 36/91-40% 34/83-41%
Three Pointers 6/23-26% 10/29-34%
Free Throws 20/25-80% 17/27-63%
Offensive Rebounds 15 5
Defensive Rebounds 39 36
Rebounds 67 52
Blocks 9 9
Steals 9 6
Turnovers 16 16
Points Scored Off Turnovers 17 10
Points in the Paint 52 40
Fast Break Points 10 2
Personal Fouls 25 25
Technical Fouls 1 0
Flagrant Fouls 0 0
Ejections 0 0

2018-19 Reg Season - Series Tied 1-1

Date Result Away Pts Ldr Home Pts Ldr
Fri Nov 9 DET 124 @ ATL 109 A. Drummond 23 J. Lin 19
Sun Dec 23 ATL 98 @ DET 95 V. Carter 18 L. Galloway 18

Game Information

Stadium: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Attendance: 16,532
Game Time: 2:23