Hawks Fall Just Short in Detroit Despite Big Nights from Johnson, Alexander-Walker
The Hawks rolled into Detroit for the first of three visits this season, but they did so shorthanded. Trae Young was sidelined as he continues rehabbing his knee, Kristaps Porzingis missed the game due to illness, and two-way forward Jacob Toppin was also unavailable. That left Atlanta leaning heavily on its depth - and for stretches, it looked like that might be enough.
After going 0-for from deep in a double-overtime battle the night before in Philly, Onyeka Okongwu wasted no time getting back on track. He knocked down a three early and added another just before the first-quarter buzzer, giving him 12 points in the opening frame. Not bad for a center known more for his work in the paint.
The first quarter was a grind on both ends - a true defensive slugfest. Both teams hit extended cold stretches, and the Hawks even coughed up two 24-second violations. But thanks to Okongwu’s touch and some timely stops, Atlanta carried a 27-25 lead into the second.
That lead didn’t last long, though. The Pistons brought the physicality, especially on the glass, and Atlanta struggled to match it.
Detroit owned the boards in the first half, building a 32-15 rebounding edge that helped offset their own turnover issues. The Hawks were active defensively, forcing giveaways to stay within striking distance.
Jalen Johnson, fresh off a 41-point explosion, couldn’t find his rhythm early. He went scoreless from the field in the first half (0-for-3) and had just four points at the break.
But Okongwu picked up the slack, pouring in 18 points on an efficient 8-for-11 shooting clip. Despite the rebounding woes and Johnson’s quiet start, Atlanta trailed by just one at halftime, 50-49.
The third quarter saw Johnson finally come alive. He looked like the version we saw the night before - aggressive, confident, and decisive.
He dropped 13 points in the quarter on 5-of-7 shooting, attacking the rim with purpose and helping the Hawks stay in it. But Detroit continued to dominate the glass and found just enough offense to take a 74-68 lead into the fourth.
That’s when Nickeil Alexander-Walker took over.
With the Hawks needing a spark, Alexander-Walker delivered - and then some. He caught fire in the fourth, hitting big shot after big shot to pull Atlanta even. It was a back-and-forth affair from that point on, with both teams trading the lead like a hot potato.
But in crunch time, it was the Pistons who made the final push. A late 11-0 run gave Detroit a 95-89 lead with just under three minutes to play.
Atlanta wasn’t done, though. Johnson and Alexander-Walker each buried clutch threes to tie the game at 95-all, setting up a tense final stretch.
Cade Cunningham had the final word for Detroit, hitting a pair of tough buckets to push the Pistons back in front. The Hawks had one last chance after a couple of missed free throws left the door cracked open.
Down four with under two seconds left, Alexander-Walker hit a quick three, and after a wild sequence, Atlanta had a sideline inbound with 0.1 seconds left. They got a tip attempt off, but it didn’t fall.
Final score: Pistons 99, Hawks 98.
It was a heartbreaker for Atlanta in a game that featured 27 lead changes and 14 ties - a true wire-to-wire battle. Despite the loss, there were bright spots.
Johnson finished with a monster second half, ending the night with 29 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists. Alexander-Walker added 26 points and was the engine behind the Hawks’ fourth-quarter surge.
The effort was there. The execution, for the most part, was there.
But the glass told the story - Detroit’s dominance on the boards was the difference. Still, with Young and Porzingis out, the Hawks showed plenty of fight.