Jalen Duren had 21 points and 11 rebounds as the host Detroit Pistons escaped with a 99-98 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday.
Cade Cunningham contributed 18 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, five steals and three blocks, while Ronald Holland II supplied 17 points and six rebounds. Caris LeVert added 14 points and Isaiah Stewart notched 10 rebounds.
Jalen Johnson led the Hawks with 29 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists. Nickeil Alexander-Walker tossed in 26 points and Onyeka Okongwu had 20.
The Pistons outrebounded the Hawks 37-20 in the first half yet only emerged with a 50-49 lead.
Neither team had a lead of more than five in the third quarter until the closing seconds. Johnson made a 3-pointer with 2:33 left to give his club a 68-65 advantage. The Pistons then closed out the quarter on a 9-0 run.
Ausar Thompson hit two free throws before a Stewart block of an Okongwu shot led to a Cunningham layup. Okongwu made a turnover on Atlanta’s next possession and Holland cashed in with a three-point play.
Cunningham then blocked a shot and fed LeVert for a layup and a 74-68 Pistons lead heading into the fourth.
A pair of Holland free throws gave Detroit an 80-74 lead. The Hawks then went on a 10-2 run to take an 84-82 lead.
During that span, Johnson set up Alexander-Walker for three baskets, including a pair of 3-pointers. Dyson Daniels gave the Hawks the lead with a short jumper.
Johnson’s 3-pointer with 5:35 left pushed the Hawks’ advantage to five. Detroit answered with an 11-0 spurt, capped by Cunningham free throws.
The Hawks came right back with 3-pointers from Johnson and Alexander-Walker to tie it at 95-all with 1:12 to play. Cunningham came to the rescue for Detroit with a midrange jumper and layup.
Alexander-Walker missed a 3-point attempt before LeVert went 0-for-2 at the foul line. Alexander-Walker drained a 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds left for the final margin.
