NBA Game Summary - Detroit at Atlanta

Atlanta, GA (Basketball News) - Tayshaun Prince scored 20 points and Darko Milicic added a career-high 16 in his first NBA start, leading the Detroit Pistons to an easy 95-68 victory over Atlanta.

Ben Wallace had 15 points and a game-high 17 rebounds for the Central Division-champion Pistons, who led wire-to-wire for their season-high 11th straight win.

Josh Smith tied a career-high with 18 points to lead the Hawks, who have lost 31 of their last 34 games for an NBA-worst 13-68 record.

Detroit was playing without guard Richard Hamilton (eye) and forward Rasheed Wallace (strained hamstring). Both injured in the team’s win over Cleveland on Sunday.

It turned into an opportunity for Milicic, who shot 7-of-11 from the field in his first start since being selected by the Pistons with the second-overall pick two years ago.

Not that his strong play was the difference. This one was a mismatch from the beginning.

The Pistons showed their defensive prowess in the first quarter, allowing just three Smith field goals on the way to a 25-9 lead at the buzzer.

Detroit shot 58 percent in the period to Atlanta’s 16 percent, and went on to outshoot the Hawks 54 percent to 32 percent for a 45-32 lead at halftime.

The Pistons then led by as many as 36 points in the second half on the way to their third win in four games against the Hawks this season.

Atlanta, which also got 12 points apiece from Josh Childress and Donta Smith, shot just 33 percent for the game. Detroit shot 56 percent.