Pistons win 11th straight, defeat Hawks 120-112

Cade Cunningham returned from a three-game absence due to injury and immediately reasserted himself as Detroit’s engine, posting 25 points and 10 assists to lift the red-hot Pistons to their 11th straight win, a 120–112 victory over the short-handed Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night.

Jalen Duren powered his way to 24 points as Detroit improved to 13–2 — its best start since the 2005–06 squad opened 15–2 en route to a 64-win season and a trip to the Eastern Conference finals. The Pistons now own the NBA’s longest winning streak of the year and their longest since an 11-gamer during the 2007–08 campaign, the last time the franchise won a playoff series.

Duncan Robinson got Detroit rolling early with 14 points, including three threes in the first five minutes, helping the Pistons carry momentum from Monday’s home win over Indiana.

Cunningham, meanwhile, continued his star-level surge, becoming the first player in team history to record five straight games with at least 25 points and 10 assists.

Despite being undermanned, Atlanta (9–6) pushed back hard. Jalen Johnson delivered a near triple-double, 25 points, eight rebounds, nine assists and three steals, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 24 and Onyeka Okongwu added 21. The Hawks were without Zaccharie Risacher (hip), Trae Young (knee) and Kristaps Porzingis (knee).

Detroit led by 19 in the second quarter and 94–80 late in the third, but Atlanta stormed back with an 18–5 run to pull within one with just over six minutes left. Two Alexander-Walker free throws made it a two-point game with 1:36 remaining, but Cunningham responded with a clutch jumper to steady the Pistons, who closed the door from there.

Dyson Daniels, honored pregame with his Most Improved Player award, contributed 12 points, nine rebounds, six assists and three steals for the Hawks.

Up Next:

*Pistons: at Milwaukee on Saturday.

Hawks: at San Antonio on Thursday.*