DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons struggled with ball control all night as they turned the ball over 23 times against the Atlanta Hawks. But if the Pistons weren’t going to win controlling possession, they were going to get it done pounding the paint.
Off a strong night in the post with Jalen Duren scoring a team-high 21 points and the Pistons (17-4) out-rebounding the Hawks 60-34, Detroit came away with the 99-98 win Monday night at Little Caesars Arena.
Cade Cunningham was one of the major purveyors of turnovers with a team-high six, but he made up for it with 18 points — eight in the fourth quarter — eight rebounds, eight assists, five steals and three blocks.
Starting guard Duncan Robinson was absent for the first time this season due to a right ankle sprain suffered in Saturday night’s win over the Miami Heat. He was previously the only player to start all 20 games for Detroit.
The Pistons looked sluggish on defense early on, compounded by their distinct lack of ball control. Detroit turned the ball over 13 times in the first half, allowing the Hawks (13-9) to score 11 points off its errors and affecting the rhythm the offense tried to establish.
With a weak rim-protecting team in the Hawks, the Pistons let Duren go at the paint and he delivered early on finishing through contact, while also showcasing a fadeaway jumper as part of a 14-point opening half.
A red-hot Onyeka Okongwu was the primary issue for the Pistons’ defense as he went 8-of-11 from the field in the first half, while draining a pair of three-pointers.
Despite going down by as much as five early on, the Pistons got their first big run turning defense into offense. Isaiah Stewart blocked former Piston Luke Kennard and the ball worked its way to Caris LeVert for a fast break three-pointer.
Two possessions later, Cunningham got all ball blocking a Dyson Daniels layup, allowing Stewart to field the rebound and take it coast-to-coast for a running finish in the paint.
A late three in the final second of the first quarter from Okongwu gave the Hawks a two-point lead. But the Pistons were about to get a major boost from their bench.
Ron Holland came out firing with his typically energetic defense, but he had one of his stronger offensive nights against the Hawks, turning in an eight-point half with three offensive rebounds. He had 17 points for the night, his best output since the season-opener.
LeVert added 10 off the bench in the opening half, draining a trio of threes to spark a few key moments as the Pistons held a 50-49 lead at halftime.
The Hawks came out firing in the third quarter on an 8-3 run. It was Tobias Harris, after missing his first eight shots of the game, pushing the Pistons back in the game with a pair of free-throw makes and fast-break finish off an Ausar Thompson steal.
Separation was difficult for both teams as the Pistons racked up another nine turnovers, but also out-rebounded the Hawks by eight in the third quarter.
A late run of key plays in the paint, including a Holland finish off the glass while earning a foul shot, finally pushed Detroit up by a game-high six points with a 74-68 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Holland continued his big night with a pair of early makes in the quarter, while Atlanta’s Nickeil Alexander-Walker started taking over making four straight shots for 10 points in the opening minutes of the period.
As the two teams once again jostled for position, the Pistons’ defense locking back in with five straight empty possessions for the Hawks and Cunningham hitting a step-back two and earning a trip to the line to go out in front.
Even as Alexander-Walker drained a corner three to tie the game at 95, Cunningham had the response, rising above defenders to knock down a clutch midrange basket and driving to the rim with a reverse lay-in to clinch the win.
It was another narrow victory for the Pistons, who lead the league in victories by single digits with 10 on the season, as they maintain their 3.5-game lead atop the Eastern Conference.
BOX SCORE
Up next: The Pistons face the Milwaukee Bucks on the road Wednesday night. Detroit won its first matchup with the Central Division foes, 129-116, also in Milwaukee.