DETROIT (AP) – Andre Drummond had 16 points, 20 rebounds and a career-high seven assists, and Reggie Jackson made a pair of 3-pointers in the final minute to lift the Detroit Pistons to a 111-104 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night.
The Central Division-leading Pistons won for the seventh time in eight games. Detroit (9-3) is off to its best start since 2005-06, when the Pistons went 10-2 to begin the season and ended up winning 64 games.
The Pistons outscored Atlanta 31-19 in the second quarter and led 57-41 at halftime, but couldn’t shake the Hawks. Atlanta kept it close and finally tied it at 94 when Kent Bazemore made back-to-back 3-pointers.
Atlanta Hawks guard Dennis Schroder (17) passes between Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) and guard Avery Bradley (22) durng the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Nov. 10, 2017, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
It was tight the rest of the way, but Jackson’s 3-pointer with 52.5 seconds remaining put the Pistons up 103-100. He connected again from beyond the arc with 21.3 seconds left to make it 107-100.
Dennis Schroder had 17 points and 11 assists for Atlanta (2-10), which has the worst record in the Eastern Conference.
Drummond surpassed his previous career high of five assists by halftime, and he calmly made two free throws with 1:28 remaining to put the Pistons up 100-98. Drummond’s foul shooting has improved noticeably this season, and he was 4 for 6 against the Hawks.
CONSISTENT
Drummond has had at least 12 rebounds in each of his first 12 games this season, matching Kevin Love’s streak to start the 2011-12 season. The last player with a longer streak to start a season was Moses Malone with 16 games in 1978-79.
TIP-INS
Hawks: Mike Muscala (sprained left ankle), DeAndre’ Bembry (fractured right wrist), Miles Plumlee (strained right quad) and Ersan Ilyasova (bruised left knee) missed the game.
Pistons: Detroit was without Stanley Johnson (strained right hip flexor) and Jon Leuer (left ankle sprain).
UP NEXT
Hawks: At Washington on Saturday night.
Pistons: Vs. Miami on Sunday.
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Atlanta Hawks guard Kent Bazemore (24) makes a layup defended by Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Nov. 10, 2017, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
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