Pistons 86, Hawks 85
PISTONS 86, HAWKS 85: Tayshaun Prince scored on a hook shot in the lane with 24 seconds remaining as host Detroit edged Atlanta, spoiling the return of Joe Johnson.
Johnson returned to the starting lineup after missing four in a row and six of the last seven games with left knee tendinitis. He missed a 3-pointer with 1.9 seconds left, and Josh Smith’s follow came after the buzzer as the Pistons survived a wild final minute.
Johnson got the Hawks to 84-82 and Smith made it a one-point game with a free throw. Then Jeff Teague stole the ball from Greg Monroe and broke away for the go-ahead layup with 36.6 seconds remaining. Prince then made his hook shot for an 86-85 lead and Detroit staved off the final two misses.
Jason Maxiell had a season-high 19 points on 9-of-11 shooting and 12 rebounds for Detroit (14-26). Monroe led the Pistons with 20 points.
Prince had 17 points and five rebounds and Rodney Stuckey had 11 points and six assists.
Josh Smith led Atlanta with 21 points, Johnson scored 18 and Marvin Williams had 16, and shot 4 of 7 on 3-pointers.
Detroit was sloppy early with 13 first-half turnovers, leading to 10 Atlanta points, essentially the halftime difference (50-41). Atlanta made 6 of 12 3-pointers, while Detroit was 0 for 5.
Detroit outscored the Hawks 26-12 in the third quarter to take a 67-62 lead. The Hawks were just 2 of 15 in the quarter and the Pistons shot 12 of 18. The Pistons increased the lead to 75-63 with four minutes gone in the fourth.
The Hawks (23-17) had won three in a row against the Pistons and nine of 12. Detroit has won eight of 11 at home.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Pistons activated Charlie Villaneuva (ankle) for the first time since Jan. 4, but Villaneuva did not enter the game. ... Atlanta's Willie Green missed his fifth consecutive game with a sore back and hamstring. ... Hawks power forward Ivan Johnson will leave the team after Friday's game because of a death in his family but is expected back for Sunday's game at Sacramento. ... Detroit had a 37-24 rebounding edge, but made just one 3-pointer to Atlanta’s eight.