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Cunningham powers Pistons past Hawks with dominant performance

Cade Cunningham delivered a stellar performance to lead the Detroit Pistons to a 114-104 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night. The Pistons improved to 23-21 and secured their seventh win in their last eight road games.

Cunningham finished with 29 points and 11 assists, orchestrating a balanced attack for Detroit. Malik Beasley provided a spark off the bench with 19 points, while Ausar Thompson contributed 16 points on an efficient 7-for-9 shooting night.

The Pistons built their largest halftime lead of the season, heading into the locker room up 69-51. Detroit shot 50% from the field and capitalized on Atlanta’s struggles from beyond the arc.

The Hawks, now 22-21, endured a frustrating night offensively, shooting a season-low 16% from three-point range. Dyson Daniels led Atlanta with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Trae Young added 13 points and nine assists.

Jalen Johnson chipped in 17 points and nine rebounds, but the Hawks couldn’t overcome their poor perimeter shooting. The team’s six players averaging double figures combined to shoot 1-for-29 from beyond the arc.

Detroit’s bench outperformed Atlanta’s reserves, with Beasley and Simone Fontecchio combining for 32 points. The Pistons also dominated the glass, out-rebounding the Hawks 51-47 and limiting Atlanta’s second-chance opportunities.

The win propelled the Pistons into sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings, bolstering their playoff aspirations. Detroit is seeking its first postseason appearance since 2019 and has won 12 of its last 16 games.

Atlanta, meanwhile, played only its second home game in a 25-day span and appeared fatigued. Bogdan Bogdanovic continued to struggle, going scoreless on 0-for-9 shooting and extending his shooting slump to 4-for-29 from deep over his last five games.

Cunningham’s leadership and ability to control the game were evident throughout the contest. The Pistons took care of the ball, committing only 13 turnovers while dishing out 27 assists as a team.

The Hawks, who rely heavily on their three-point shooting, were unable to find a rhythm from distance. Clint Capela’s 16 points and 10 rebounds provided some interior presence, but it wasn’t enough to counter Detroit’s balanced attack.

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