Detroit Pistons in action | Image Credits: IMAGO/ aal.photo
A pair of major winning streaks will be on the line when the Atlanta Hawks host the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night.
Detroit has won a league-best 10 straight games after defeating the Indiana Pacers 127-112 on Monday. The last time the Pistons won 10 in a row was from Jan. 23 to Feb. 13, 2008.
Atlanta won its fifth straight game -- the second-longest winning streak in the East, behind Detroit -- by capping a four-game road trip with a 124-122 victory over Phoenix on Sunday.
"I just think we have a resilient group," Atlanta's Nickeil Alexander-Walker said. "I think we put our head down when he came together this entire trip. That's one thing that's really impressive is our mentality, our camaraderie around the team. Everybody pushes each other. Everybody accepts the accountability that we give, and when you do that, you get the results you like."
This will be the first of three meetings between the teams this season. The Pistons won three of four against the Hawks in 2024-25 and swept both meetings in Atlanta.
Detroit's Jalen Duren was sharp in his return from missing two games due to a right ankle sprain. He scored 31 points on 12-for-13 shooting from the field, with 15 rebounds, against the Pacers.
Daniss Jenkins collected a career-high 26 points with eight assists against Indiana. He has averaged 21.8 points over the last four games while filling in for the injured Cade Cunningham (left hip contusion).
"They've just a nastiness to them," Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "That's the fun part about our group. They like it when it gets thick. They like it when it gets messy and it gets ugly. That's where they thrive. We like to take people there; we like to push people' buttons and see how they respond."
Atlanta's success is even more unlikely because it has come without All-Star point guard Trae Young, who has missed nine games with a right MCL strain. On Sunday, the Hawks scored 20 straight points in their bid to erase a 22-point deficit, with Alexander-Walker scoring a season-high 26 points, to complete the road sweep.
"We didn't come here just to play," he said. "One thing I keep telling myself every day is, no matter how tired you are, no matter what you're going through, if you're here, you might as well give it your all. That's just the mentality."
Atlanta's Jalen Johnson has had at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in each of the last three games. Onyeka Okongwu has scored 20-plus in three straight games for the first time in his career.
The Hawks could be without Zaccharie Risacher, who fell awkwardly after being pushed from behind by Dillon Brooks while finishing a slam midway in the fourth quarter against Phoenix.
Risacher stayed down several minutes after landing on his hip and back. He left the court on his own power and was diagnosed with a left hip contusion.
