Cunningham’s Late Surge Seals Narrow Victory for Pistons over Hawks in Detroit Thriller

Key Takeaways:

• Cade Cunningham contributed eight of his 18 points in the final 3:21 to propel Detroit to a 99-98 win over Atlanta
• Jalen Johnson led all scorers with 29 points and secured 13 rebounds but could not convert a game-winning tip-in for the Hawks as time expired
• Jalen Duren finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds, as Detroit achieved its 15th victory in 17 games

Pivotal Moments in a Tight Contest

The Detroit Pistons held off a late charge from the Atlanta Hawks to triumph 99-98, in a Monday night contest that came down to the wire at Little Caesars Arena. Cade Cunningham was instrumental in the closing minutes, tallying eight points in the final 3:21, including a critical reverse layup with 17 seconds remaining.

The visiting Hawks had a last-gasp opportunity with just 0.1 seconds left on the clock, but Jalen Johnson’s tip-in attempt fell short, confirming Detroit’s hard-fought victory by the narrowest of margins.

And another one… pic.twitter.com/J2pHxvJNi8

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) December 2, 2025

Standout Player Performances

Pistons centre Jalen Duren registered a double-double, amassing 21 points alongside 11 rebounds. Caris LeVert contributed 14 points and played a decisive role defensively, forcing two turnovers in the critical final minutes. Detroit maintained intense pressure on the boards, securing more offensive rebounds than Atlanta managed defensive rebounds through much of the game, although the Pistons were offset by committing 22 turnovers in the first three quarters.

For Atlanta, Jalen Johnson turned in a dominant display with 29 points and 13 rebounds, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker recorded 26 points. Onyeka Okongwu also delivered 20 points for the Hawks, who entered the game having won four of their last five.

Game Flow and Crucial Statistics

Neither side led by more than five points until LeVert extended Detroit’s advantage to 74-68 with the final basket in the third quarter. The contest remained fiercely competitive as Alexander-Walker’s three-pointer brought Atlanta level at 82-apiece with 7:06 to play. Cunningham responded with a clutch jumper, restoring the Pistons’ edge, and a pair of turnovers induced by LeVert led to further scoring opportunities.

The final 90 seconds featured rapid exchanges: Cunningham’s miss from beyond the arc was punished by consecutive threes from Johnson and Alexander-Walker, tying the game at 97-97 with just over a minute left. Cunningham edged the Pistons ahead once more before Alexander-Walker trimmed the deficit to one with another three-pointer seconds before the buzzer. Daniss Jenkins missed two crucial free throws, setting up Atlanta’s final attempt after a timeout, which ultimately went unconverted.

Looking Ahead

The Atlanta Hawks will return to home court to host the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday. The Detroit Pistons are set for a visit to the Milwaukee Bucks, also scheduled for Wednesday.