Pistons clinch division title with win over Hawks

Tayshaun Prince added 18 points while Richard Hamilton and Chauncey Billups each had 14 for the Pistons, who recorded their 15th consecutive win at the Palace and wrapped up their fourth division crown in five years.

"It’s a five-step process," said Detroit head coach Flip Saunders. "One, you want to get in the playoffs. We did that about two weeks ago. You want to win your division, which is going to pretty much lock in home court, at least through the first two rounds. Now what you want to do is secure home court in the East. Then secure home court overall and then the championship."

Al Harrington finished with 23 points for the Hawks, who snapped a four-game losing streak with an overtime win Sunday against Orlando. Joe Johnson netted 17 in defeat.

The Hawks held an 15-12 lead midway through the first quarter, but Detroit outscored Atlanta 18-5 over the remainder of the period to move comfortably in front.

The Pistons scored the last eight points of the quarter, ending with a layup and free throw by Hamilton in the closing seconds that put the Pistons up 30-20.

After Esteban Batista’s layup to start the second frame cut Atlanta’s deficit to eight, Detroit embarked on an 18-6 run to break open the game.

Maurice Evans had eight points during the spurt, including a triple with 5:35 remaining before intermission which gave the Pistons a 46-28 advantage. Wallace followed with a putback to extend the margin to 20 points.

"We played great basketball in the first half," Prince said. "We stepped our defense up in the first quarter and kept it up throughout the second."

Detroit led 53-34 at halftime, but Atlanta put together a 13-4 burst over the first five minutes of the third quarter and moved within 57-47 after a three- point play from Harrington. The Hawks trailed 72-60 heading into the final 12 minutes.

"We kind of got disoriented by not running our stuff," said Harrington on the first half. "But we came out and played the way we’re supposed to in the second half."

Billups then opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer and fed Evans for an easy dunk off a steal to lengthen Detroit’s cushion to 17 points.

Game Notes

Atlanta rookie Marvin Williams, who was attending to his ill father, was not with the team. He is expected to rejoin the Hawks for Wednesday’s game at Philadelphia...Detroit’s last loss at home came on January 7 to Utah...Ben Wallace pulled down 13 rebounds for the Pistons...Zaza Pachulia finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds for Atlanta...Detroit has won six of the last seven meetings between the teams.