Hawks 88 - 87 Pistons
Final
  for this game

Hawks end preseason with win over Pistons

Oct 24, 2008 - 2:36 AM By Chuck Klonke PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan (Ticker) -- Atlanta Hawks guard Flip Murray helped make the preseason finale for his former team a disappointing one.

Murray scored 19 points, including seven in the fourth quarter, to lead the Hawks to an 88-87 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Thursday.

Zaza Pachulia added 18 points, including the winning basket on a layup with 54 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Detroit's Rodney Stuckey had a chance to win the game at the buzzer, but his running 3-pointer was off the mark.

Detroit wrapped up the preseason with a 6-2 record, while Atlanta finished at 5-3.

It was a game of spurts as both teams rested several of their starters. Richard Hamilton and Rasheed Wallace sat out for the Pistons, while Joe Johnson, who has a right groin strain, did not make the trip for the Hawks.

Atlanta had a 17-0 spurt early in the second quarter to go ahead 32-26 en route to a three-point lead at halftime. Detroit had its biggest lead of the game, 63-49, after a 3-pointer by Arron Afflalo to cap a 14-0 run with 4:46 left in the third quarter.

Afflalo scored 15 points and Jason Maxiell added 13 for Detroit, which saw its lead cut to three, when Atlanta went on a 17-4 run to close the third quarter.

Hawks forward Josh Smith left the game with a sprained ankle in the second quarter and did not return.






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