Josh Smith returned to Philips Arena – and the Hawks were most unwelcoming hosts.
The Hawks pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 93-85 victory over the Pistons Wednesday night at Philips Arena. Three-point plays, two by Mike Scott and one by Lou Williams, in the final period helped the Hawks comfortable margin as they led by as many as 13 points.
The Hawks (7-5, 4-1 home) found a way to win after an ugly start by both teams.
“I think it’s important during the season to find a way to win some ugly games,” Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “I think our group tonight found a way to do that, to find some energy when it probably wasn’t easy for either group. We are going to learn from tonight.
It was the 10th straight home victory over the Pistons for the Hawks. Paul Millsap returned and led the Hawks with 19 points. Jeff Teague (18 points), DeMarre Carroll (11), Scott (11) and Al Horford (10) were the other double-digit scorers. Carroll also a career-high 12 rebounds for his first ever double-double.
“I was just attacking the rim,” Millsap said. “Get to the basket. It was an ugly game but we found a way to win.”
Smith, the long-time Hawk and local product, finished with 11 points on 5 of 15 shooting (0 of 4 from 3-point range). Brandon Jennings led the Pistons with (4-7, 1-5 road) with a game-high 21 points. Rodney Stuckey added 18 points.
“It felt good (to be back) but it would have felt even better if we would’ve won,” Smith said.
The Hawks, who have not lost two games in a row this season, used a 14-3 run in the final period to push their lead to double digits. Teague got two baskets in the lane during the run. It ended with a pair of technical free throws by Kyle Korver after Pistons coach Maurice Cheeks was accessed two fouls and ejected with 2:36 during a timeout.
“Coach pulled me aside a few days ago and told me to be more aggressive in the fourth quarter,” Teague said.
Korver extended his streak to 85 consecutive games with a 3-pointer. He is now four shy of the NBA record.
Smith received mostly cheers in a mixed reaction during his pre-game introduction. In a change from his nine seasons as a Hawk, the Philips Arena cheered every time he took an outside shot and implored him to take more. He rimmed a first-quarter 3-point attempt to the delight of the crowd.
The Pistons led 46-43 at the intermission after both teams suffered through woeful shooting performances in the first quarter. The Hawks shot 6 of 21 (28.6 percent) and the Pistons shot 6 of 23 (26.1 percent). That’s a combined 12 of 44 (27.3 percent). The Pistons started the game 1 of 10 from the floor.
The Hawks shot 12 of 16 (75 percent) and the Pistons 13 of 21 (61.9 percent) in the much-improved second quarter.
“I think it was a complete team effort,” said Carroll, who also had three assists, two steals, two blocks and defended Smith for much of the game. “ I just did what I had to do, be the Junkyard Dog, just try to fill the stat sheet up. Paul came in and gave us some big minutes. Jeff and Al did what they had to do. It was a team effort.”
The teams meet against in Auburn Hills, Mich. Friday.
