Dejounte Murray showcased his prowess with 32 points and nine assists, steering the Atlanta Hawks to a 126-120 victory over the struggling Detroit Pistons in a compelling NBA In-Season Tournament matchup.
In their Eastern Conference Group A tourney opener, the Hawks secured the win, while the Pistons faced their second consecutive defeat, falling to 0-2.
Saddiq Bey, making a statement against his former team, contributed 17 of his 19 points in the second half, and Bogdan Bogdanovic added 17 for the Hawks.
Notably, Trae Young was absent as he celebrated the birth of his second child on Monday.
Despite a strong performance from Marvin Bagley III, who tallied 22 points and 10 rebounds, and a noteworthy contribution from rookie Ausar Thompson with 21 points, the Pistons couldn’t overcome their struggles.
Cade Cunningham, with 12 assists but a challenging 4-for-14 shooting performance and six turnovers, highlighted the Pistons’ offensive struggles.
Heading into the fourth quarter with a 97-91 lead, the Hawks continued to force turnovers but faced resistance as the Pistons clawed back.
With 58.3 seconds left, De’Andre Hunter’s short jumper and a dunk from Clint Capela secured a 120-117 lead for the Hawks.
Despite a late attempt by the Pistons, Murray’s free throws and a critical ruling by officials denied Detroit a potential four-point play, securing the Hawks’ victory.
Murray and Bogdanovic’s combined efforts, contributing 32 of Atlanta’s 64 points in the first half, set the tone for the thrilling encounter.
