Hawks Edge Pistons in Overtime Thriller

Jalen Johnson's big night leads Atlanta to victory in close contest

Mar. 26, 2026 at 7:55am

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In a close and hard-fought game, the Atlanta Hawks defeated the Detroit Pistons 130-129 in overtime on Wednesday. Jalen Johnson led the way for the Hawks with 27 points, 12 assists and 8 rebounds, while CJ McCollum also scored 27 points. The Pistons were led by Jalen Duren's 26 points and 14 rebounds, but ultimately came up short in the extra period.

Why it matters

This was an important win for the Hawks, who have now won 14 of their last 15 games and are solidifying their position in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The loss snaps a four-game winning streak for the Pistons, who are still having a strong season overall.

The details

The Hawks raced out to a 73-55 halftime lead, shooting 59.2% from the field and making 11 3-pointers in the first half. However, the Pistons stormed back in the third quarter, scoring the first 16 points to get back in the game. The teams traded leads down the stretch, with Tobias Harris hitting a shot in the final seconds of regulation to force overtime. In the extra period, the Hawks made just enough plays to hold on for the victory.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, March 26, 2026.

The players

Jalen Johnson

The Hawks' star forward had a dominant all-around game, recording 27 points, 12 assists and 8 rebounds.

CJ McCollum

The veteran guard also scored 27 points to help lead the Hawks to the win.

Jalen Duren

The Pistons' young center had a strong game with 26 points and 14 rebounds in the losing effort.

Tobias Harris

The Pistons' veteran forward scored 22 points, including the game-tying shot at the end of regulation.

Dyson Daniels

The Hawks' forward contributed 16 points and 13 rebounds in the victory.

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What they’re saying

“We had to grind this one out, but I'm proud of the way our guys battled back and found a way to win in overtime.”

— Nate McMillan, Hawks Head Coach

What’s next

The Hawks will look to continue their hot streak when they host the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday, March 28th. The Pistons will try to bounce back when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, March 30th.

The takeaway

This was an exciting and hard-fought game between two of the Eastern Conference's top teams. The Hawks' ability to withstand the Pistons' third-quarter surge and make the necessary plays in overtime shows the depth and resilience of this Atlanta squad as they push for a high playoff seed.