Cade Cunningham's clutch performance in the final moments of the game secured the Detroit Pistons' 99-98 victory over the Atlanta Hawks. With eight of his 18 points scored in the crucial 3:21 period, Cunningham led the Pistons to a thrilling comeback. The Hawks had a chance to win with just 0.1 seconds left, but Jalen Johnson's tip-in attempt failed to go in.
The Pistons' victory marks their 15th win in 17 games, with a strong team effort. Jalen Duren contributed 21 points and 11 rebounds, while Caris LeVert made two significant defensive plays and added 14 points. On the other hand, Atlanta's four-game winning streak came to an end, with Johnson leading the team with 29 points and 13 rebounds, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker adding 26 points. The game was close throughout, with neither team leading by more than five points until LeVert's crucial basket in the third quarter.
Detroit's relentless pressure on the glass and offensive rebounding kept them in the game, but they also committed 22 turnovers in the first three quarters. Alexander-Walker's 3-pointer tied the game at 82 with 7:06 to play, but Cunningham's short jumper put the Pistons back in the lead. LeVert's defensive plays and scoring kept the Pistons ahead, with Cunningham hitting two free throws to extend their lead to 95-89.
However, the Hawks fought back with back-to-back 3-pointers from Johnson and Alexander-Walker, tying the game with 1:12 left. Cunningham's jumper and reverse layup put the Pistons back in front, but Alexander-Walker's 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds left made it 99-98. The Hawks' subsequent missed free throws and timeout call with 0.1 seconds left resulted in the Pistons' narrow victory.
Up next, the Hawks will host the Los Angeles Clippers, while the Pistons will visit the Milwaukee Bucks.
