Teague, Smith pace Atlanta’s win over Detroit
ATLANTA — Jeff Teague tied a career high with 24 points and had a season-high 11 assists, and Josh Smith added 20 points and 12 rebounds to help the Atlanta Hawks held off the Detroit Pistons for a 101-96 victory on Friday night.
The Hawks have won two straight and three of four to hold the No. 5 spot in the Eastern Conference.
Rodney Stuckey finished with 27 points for the Pistons, who ended a three-game winning streak. Detroit had won five of six overall, but now stand 6-22 on the road.
The Hawks got 16 points apiece from Joe Johnson and reserve big man Ivan Johnson.
Teague scored 17 in the first half, including a layup at the buzzer. He took Kirk Hinrich’s inbound pass with 3.4 seconds remaining and dribbled past Rodney Stuckey and Brandon Knight to put Atlanta up 52-43 at intermission.
Midway through the third, Teague made it 70-58 with an easy layup in the Hawks’ half-court offense.
The Pistons went on an 18-6 run for their biggest lead, six points, in a 5-minute span of the second that ended with Will Bynum’s layup.
In the final minute of the third, Atlanta led by 12, but the Pistons answered with a 17-2 run that gave them an 83-80 lead on Bynum’s layup with 7:29 remaining.
But Teague asserted his influence again, zipping a pass from the top of the key to Smith for a dunk in Atlanta’s half-court offense and throwing halfway down the court to Marvin Williams for a dunk and an 88-85 lead.
Teague made it 90-85 with a layup at the 3:05 mark, causing Pistons coach Lawrence Frank to call timeout.
With 1:20 remaining, Teague fed Ivan Johnson for dunk that made it 94-89.
Pistons starters Ben Gordon, Jason Maxiell and Greg Monroe combined for just 16 points. Bynum scored 15 and Jonas Jerebko had 10 in reserve roles.
Detroit never led after Smith hit a 20-footer jumper to make it 84-83 with 6:25 remaining.
Notes: The Hawks led assists 30-16. ... Atlanta has won seven straight over the Pistons at Philips Arena. ... Detroit began the game with the fourth-most road losses in the NBA. ... The Pistons started the second quarter 8 of 11 from the field, but ended it 2 for 9. ... The Hawks led fastbreak points 28-15.