Atlanta, GA – Tracy McGrady led six Hawks in double figures with 17 points as Atlanta used a first-half explosion to rout the Detroit Pistons, 116-84, on Wednesday.
Ivan Johnson had 16 points and 10 rebounds, Josh Smith added 12 points and nine boards and Joe Johnson netted 13 for Atlanta, which tallied a season-high 72 points in the opening 24 minutes. The Hawks have won six of their last eight games.
Atlanta is three games behind idle Indiana for the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference and moved a half-game ahead of Orlando, which is currently playing in Boston, for the fifth seed.
Greg Monroe finished with 17 points, while Walker Russell tallied 15 for the Pistons, who have dropped six of their last eight contests.
The Hawks jumped on the Pistons immediately with 39 first-quarter points and never looked back.
Smith had four points and an assist during an 11-0 surge as Atlanta led, 16-5, midway through the opening period.
Later, with the Hawks ahead 27-18, they closed the frame on a 12-2 burst, stretching their margin to 39-20 after a period of play.
The 30-point barrier was breached with 4:42 remaining in the second stanza following a 9-0 Atlanta spurt.
Marvin Williams capped it with a jumper and putback layup, giving the hosts a commanding 58-28 lead.
Atlanta, which shot a season-high 62.2 percent in the opening half, took a 72-42 advantage into the locker room. All 12 Hawk players who saw action in the first two periods recorded a point.
The Hawks maintained a comfortable 96-61 advantage after three, and led by as many as 41 in the fourth.
Game Notes
Atlanta's most points scored in a half this season prior to Wednesday was 63 against Chicago on January 7...The Hawks moved to 20-9 at home this season...Detroit is winless in its last eight trips to Atlanta... Williams and Willie Green finished with 10 points apiece for the Hawks.
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