CJ McCollum's clutch scoring sealed an epic OT win over the Pistons. The red-hot Atlanta Hawks are a surging team in the Eastern Conference.
In an overtime thriller, the Detroit Pistons had multiple opportunities to make the go-ahead basket in the final seconds, but the basketball gods helped the Atlanta Hawks earn a 130-129 victory over the Pistons on Wednesday night. The Hawks are now 41-32.
The Hawks have now won 14 of their last 15 games, and continue to be the hottest team in the NBA. Atlanta's 130 points mark the ELEVENTH time in the past 15 contests that the Hawks have scored more than 120 points.
Jalen Johnson returned to the lineup after missing the last two games and erupted with 27 points, eight rebounds, and 12 assists.
CJ McCollum went crazy towards the end of the game and into overtime to score another 27 for the Hawks. McCollum scored the last 10 points in regulation and then added another three in OT to keep the Hawks in the game, and eventually escape with a win.
Atlanta looked to be cruising in this one, as the Hawks took an 18-point lead into halftime, but Detroit outscored Atlanta 40-25 in the third quarter to get right back into the game.
The two teams traded buckets for most of the fourth quarter, which is when McCollum scored 10 straight points. However, Atlanta had a hard time guarding in the paint, and the Pistons were able to knot things at 121 to end the fourth.
Atlanta hit eight more 3-pointers than the Pistons on Wednesday, and really increased their defensive pressure in the final minutes of regulation and into OT.
Jalen Johnson made a key bucket and sank two free throws to give the Hawks a five-point advantage with about a minute left. The Pistons, of course, brought it to within one, and ended up having the final possession in the game. Tobias Harris airballed on a mid-range shot, and then the putback attempt was also not good as time expired.
The Hawks are playing such a good brand of basketball right now, and should absolutely be valued as a threat in the NBA playoffs.
