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Hawks look to pick up rare road win vs. Pistons

Dec 23, 2006 - 3:38 PM Atlanta (9-16) at Detroit (16-8) 7:30 pm EST

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan (Ticker) -- The Detroit Pistons are just starting to hit their stride.

Having won five of their last six games, the Pistons on Saturday will host the Atlanta Hawks, who have struggled at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

The class of the Eastern Conference during the regular season in recent years, Detroit figured to fall back this season with the loss of All-Star center Ben Wallace to free agency.

However, the Pistons are winning games and doing it with their championship formula. They have played solid defense and are getting clutch play from Chauncey Billups - a recipe that concluded with back-to-back trips to the NBA Finals and one championship.

On Thursday, Billups scored 12 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter and added 10 assists as the red-hot Pistons used a decisive late-game run to post an 87-71 victory over Cleveland.

Detroit has dominated the Hawks, going 21-3 against Atlanta at home since February 4, 1995. The Hawks' last win in Detroit came on December 10, 2004.

Joe Johnson scored 22 of his 31 points in the first half and Marvin Williams added 18 for Atlanta, which endured a 100-90 setback to the Indiana Pacers on Friday.

Speedy Claxton left with back spasms in the third quarter for the Hawks, who lost their fourth straight home game.