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The Sports Network TSN
(Sports Network) - The Atlanta Hawks hope to bounce back from a miserable
showing their last time out tonight when they continue a five-game road trip
against the Detroit Pistons at the Palace in Auburn Hills.
Atlanta seemed lost at times on Wednesday when it dropped a 105-83 decision to
the San Antonio Spurs. Jeff Teague led the Hawks with 20 points, while Josh
Smith netted 13 on 6- of-17 shooting.
The Hawks had won six of seven coming in, but trailed by as many as 26 to the
Spurs. THey also turned the ball over 17 times in the loss and slipped to 0-5
this season when scoring less than 90 points.
"They outplayed us," Hawks head coach Larry Drew said bluntly. "If you look at
that stat sheet, they beat us in just about every category."
Detroit, meanwhile, also enters tonight's contest on a losing note after
falling, 101-98, to the Miami Heat on Wednesday.
Austin Daye had a team-high 28 points for Detroit, but was whistled for a
traveling violation while attempting a potential game-tying three-pointer in
the final seconds.
Greg Monroe posted 20 points and 10 rebounds in the loss, though he also
missed a critical basket late in regulation.
"We definitely gave a great effort tonight, everybody's intensity was really
high, everybody was focused and we were all playing together," said Monroe.
"It was a tough loss."
As well as they may have played against one of the better teams in the Eastern
Conference, it was still the Pistons' 12th loss in 14 tries. However, head
coach Lawrence Frank was pleased with his team's effort.
"I thought our guys showed great fight, spirit and resolve," Frank said. "You
have to look at the fight for the whole game. If we can establish this as part
of our DNA, we'll put ourselves in position to win a lot of games, but it
can't be just (against) Miami."
The Hawks took three of their four meetings with the Pistons last season and
have won five of seven and eight of the last 11 overall in this series.
Atlanta, though, has dropped 10 of 12 in Detroit.
The Sports Network