CJ McCollum delivered in the clutch, scoring 27 points and converting a go-ahead three-point play in overtime to lift the Hawks to a thrilling 130-129 victory over the Pistons on Wednesday night.
Jalen Johnson matched McCollum with 27 points and flirted with a triple-double, adding 12 assists and eight rebounds as Atlanta continued its dominant post-break run. The Hawks have now won 15 of their last 17 games since the All-Star break, the best stretch in the Eastern Conference, while also snapping Detroit’s four-game winning streak.
Detroit got a huge performance from Jalen Duren, who finished with 26 points and 14 rebounds. Tobias Harris added 22 points, and Daniss Jenkins chipped in 19 points and 10 assists in the loss.
Atlanta looked in control early, building a 21-point lead in the first half. A pair of scoring runs — an 11-0 burst midway through the second quarter and an 11-2 spurt late in the half — helped the Hawks take a commanding 73-52 lead into halftime.
But the Pistons stormed back after the break, opening the third quarter on a 16-0 run to cut the deficit to just two points and completely shift the momentum.
McCollum took over late in regulation, scoring Atlanta’s final 11 points, including a three-point play that put the Hawks ahead 121-116 with 44 seconds left. Detroit answered again to force overtime, and McCollum missed a potential game-winner at the buzzer.
In the extra period, he made sure not to miss his next chance. His second three-point play of the night gave Atlanta a 126-123 edge, and the Hawks held on as Harris missed a jumper in the closing seconds and Duren came up short on a follow attempt.
The win also helped Atlanta avoid a season sweep against Detroit, which had dominated the previous matchup with a 142-point outburst back in December.
Up next: The Hawks head on the road to face the Boston Celtics on Friday, while the Pistons return home to host the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday.