Detroit’s offense exploded Friday night at Little Caesars Arena, where the Pistons rolled past the Atlanta Hawks 142–115 to improve to 20–5.
Isaiah Stewart led the balanced attack with 17 points, while Cade Cunningham added 15 points and seven assists.
Jalen Johnson posted a 19-point, 11-rebound, 11-assist triple-double for Atlanta, but his milestone could not stem Detroit’s surge. Johnson’s effort marked his third straight triple-double and the fifth of the season.
Detroit had seven players reach double figures and 12 players score at least seven points, tying an NBA record shared by the 2018–19 Bucks and 2021–22 Spurs. That depth showed up in every quarter as the Pistons pushed the pace and finished with 58.2 percent shooting (53-of-91).
The game was still competitive at halftime — Detroit led 69–60 — but the Pistons seized control in the third quarter with a 35–19 advantage. Detroit shot 58.3 percent (14-of-24) in the pivotal period while holding Atlanta to 27.3 percent (6-of-22).
Paul Reed supplied punch off the bench with 17 points, and Jalen Duren chipped in 14 and seven rebounds to anchor the frontcourt. Ausar Thompson and Marcus Sasser each provided efficient scoring and energy in rotation minutes, keeping the Hawks on their heels.
Atlanta received 22 points from Nickeil Alexander-Walker, but the Hawks’ supporting cast was limited as the lineup went cold in the third.
The loss dropped Atlanta to 14–12 and continued a rough stretch in which the Hawks have lost four of five.
Detroit’s ball movement and inside-out balance produced 24-of-29 free-throw shooting and 12 made threes (12-of-29), further widening the gap. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s roster used depth and bench production to sustain pressure for 48 minutes.
The Pistons now head to Boston on Sunday, while the Hawks visit the Philadelphia 76ers, both teams seeking bounce-back performances.
