[8:00 PM] Pistons @ Hawks

Who will WIN this matchup?

Detroit Pistons (10-10)

@ Atlanta Hawks (10-9)

 

• The Detroit Pistons are winners of four of their last five games and gave themselves a shot at a winning four-game road trip with a 121-114 triumph at Boston on Wednesday. Standing in the way are the Atlanta Hawks, who host the Pistons on Friday and are stumbling with losses in four straight and seven of their last eight. Detroit dropped the opener of the road trip at Oklahoma City but bounced back by crushing Charlotte 112-89 before holding off Boston.

• The Hawks are singing a different tune and are hoping to turn things around at home after losing at Phoenix on Wednesday to drop the final four of a five-game road trip.

• Detroit played the first 20 games without starting point guard Reggie Jackson, who is expected back early this month, but found a capable replacement in journeyman Ish Smith. The Wake Forest product is averaging 15.5 points in the last four games after posting a season-high 19 on Wednesday.

• One positive from Atlanta’s road trip was the play of reserve shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr., who scored 21 points on Wednesday and logged more court time (26 minutes) than starter Kyle Korver (16 minutes). Korver averaged 4.8 points on 28.6 percent shooting on the road trip.

• The Hawks took three of the four meetings last season, though Detroit did earn its win at Atlanta.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Detroit Pistons

Confidence: 4/10

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