As Mike Bibby said during the halftime TV interview, this one was about the Atlanta Hawks finally getting defensive stops. Of course, it also helps when you're knocking down just about every shot that you take.
Bibby had 10 points, three rebounds and four assists as the Hawks overcame a 15 point deficit to take a 53-51 lead into the third quarter. Joe Johnson and Josh Smith posted 11 points each for Atlanta, which shot a blistering 68-percent (21-for-31) from the field in the frame.
It seemed like once Atlanta withstood a barrage of Detroit 3-pointers, good defense lead to easy transition buckets and the Hawks were right back in the game.Detroit was 6-for-6 from behind the arc Seconds as Charlie Villanueva gave the Pistons a 41-26 lead with 7:28 remaining in the second with a reverse layup. But Atlanta's basketball team went to work. Folks like Bibby and Johnson were draining 3-pointers and the team continued sharing the basketball.
Atlanta dished assists on 15 of their 21 first half buckets as they chipped away at the lead. The Hawks finally got onto the right side of the scoresheet when Josh Smith banked in a shot with 33.8 seconds left in the half.
Villanueva posted a game-high 11 points and Rodney Stuckey, Tracy McGrady and Austin Daye had nine each for the Pistons, who have connected on 8-of-10 shots from behind the 3-point line.