Short-handed Pistons drop Hawks into tie for 3rd in East

Short-handed Pistons hand Hawks 2nd straight loss

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Ben Gordon scored 22 points and made two key defensive plays in the final minute, leading the injury-riddled Detroit Pistons to a 90-88 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night.

The win came one night after the Pistons snapped an 11-game losing streak in Philadelphia. Detroit had lost 18 of its previous 20, dating to Feb. 24.

Detroit came into the game missing starters Tayshaun Prince (personal reasons) and Richard Hamilton (ankle), then lost Rodney Stuckey to a first-half rib injury. The Pistons were also missing reserves Jason Maxiell (back) and Chris Wilcox (hamstring).

The Hawks (49-29) have lost two straight and fell into a tie with Boston for third place in the Eastern Conference.

Will Bynum added 17 points for Detroit, while rookie Austin Daye had his first double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Jamal Crawford led Atlanta with 19 points, but missed a tying 3-pointer with 12 seconds left.

Both teams struggled offensively in the fourth quarter, but Gordon’s 3-pointer pulled the Pistons within 84-81 with 2:35 to go.

The Hawks missed three of four free-throw attempts on their next two possessions, and Bynum’s three-point play cut the Atlanta lead to 85-84 with 56.5 seconds left.

Gordon then intercepted a pass and was fouled by Mike Bibby. He hit both free throws to put the Pistons ahead, then knocked away another pass, resulting in a shot-clock violation.

Bynum made it 88-85 with two free throws, and after Crawford’s miss, Jonas Jerebko clinched the game from the line.

The game was tied at 48 at the half, but the Pistons started quickly in the third and built a 56-50 lead.

The advantage was short-lived, however, as Atlanta responded with a 20-6 run to go up 70-62 late in the period, and the Hawks still led by seven entering the fourth.

NOTES: Ben Wallace made all four free throws in the game, extending his streak to six. Before that, he had missed 22 of his previous 25 attempts. … Because of the Detroit injuries, veteran reserve Chucky Atkins played for the first time since March 15.