Hawks Fall to Pistons 114-104 Despite Defensive Efforts, Prepare for Raptors Showdown

The Atlanta Hawks returned to State Farm Arena on Wednesday, January 22, where they fell to the Detroit Pistons in a hard-fought 114-104 contest. Despite the loss, the Hawks showcased their defensive prowess with 14 steals, marking their 28th game this season with 10 or more thefts. This achievement is the most for the team since the 1996-97 campaign (29 such games) and leads the Eastern Conference. Only the Oklahoma City Thunder (29 games) have more in the NBA. Atlanta is currently averaging 10.3 steals per game, the second-highest mark in the league.

The Hawks’ offense also delivered strong ball movement, dishing out 25 assists. This marked their 37th game of the season with 25 or more assists, tied for the second-most in the NBA. Additionally, the Hawks extended their streak of 20+ assists in home games at State Farm Arena to 68 consecutive games, the second-longest streak in franchise history.

Key Performances

Dyson Daniels delivered a standout performance, recording his second double-double of the season with a team-high 20 points and a career-high-tying 10 rebounds. In 33 minutes of play, Daniels also contributed two assists and two steals, marking his first career game with 20+ points and 10+ rebounds. Notably, Daniels has swiped at least one steal in 15 consecutive games, tied for the longest such streak of his career and the third-longest active streak in the NBA.

Jalen Johnson continued his impressive form, scoring 17 points along with nine rebounds, four assists, and a career-high-tying six steals in 37 minutes. Johnson’s double-digit scoring streak has now reached 32 games, the longest of his career and the longest active streak on the team.

Clint Capela added his 10th double-double of the season and the 305th of his career, contributing 16 points and 10 rebounds in just 21 minutes. The veteran center also surpassed a career milestone, recording his 4,500th career defensive rebound with his first board of the game.

Vit Krejci continued his efficient offensive production, finishing with nine points on 3-6 shooting from the field (.500 FG%) and 3-5 from beyond the arc (.600 3FG%). Over his last seven games, Krejci is averaging 11.1 points on an impressive .547 FG%, .500 3FG%, and 1.000 FT%, showcasing his growing impact off the bench.

Detroit Pistons Shine

For the Pistons, Cade Cunningham led the way with a game-high 29 points, 11 assists, and six rebounds, securing his 19th double-double of the season. Cunningham was highly efficient, shooting 12-19 from the field (.632 FG%) and a perfect 4-4 from the free-throw line.

Jalen Duren also stood out with his 17th double-double of the season, tallying 14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds while shooting an outstanding 6-7 from the field (.857 FG%).

Looking Ahead

Following the loss, the Hawks return to the court tonight, January 23, as they take on the Toronto Raptors at State Farm Arena. After enduring the recent “Snowmageddon” in Atlanta, the team will look to bounce back and secure a much-needed win in front of their home crowd.