DETROIT _ The Pistons were the only team in the NBA to play a back-to-back to open the season. After an energetic win against the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, the challenge was bouncing back with no rest.
Coach Dwane Casey didn't want that to be an excuse, but it showed in the second half as all the juice they had in the opener seemed to be sapped.
The Atlanta Hawks took advantage, running away with a 117-100 victory in the Pistons' home opener on Thursday night at Little Caesars Arena.
Derrick Rose scored 27, Andre Drummond had 21 points and 12 rebounds and Luke Kennard added 13 points for the Pistons (1-1), who have their third game in four nights when they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday.
The Hawks (1-0) pulled away in the third quarter, with a decisive 9-2 run to finish the period. Jabari Parker (18 points) scored seven straight points before Rose finished with a lay-in, but the Hawks led, 91-81.
The Pistons got a boost from Tim Frazier, who had a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws to close within 97-88 at the 7:56 mark. But the Hawks kept attacking, behind Trae Young (38 points, nine assists, seven rebounds), who led the charge with 26 points in the first half.
Rose rallied with two free throws and a floater to get within 98-92, but the Hawks put the game away with a 7-0 run, including a three-point play by John Collins (18 points, 10 rebounds) and a dunk by DeAndre Bembry, to push the lead to 105-92 with 4:47 left.
Drummond converted a hook and split a pair of free throws _ ending his streak of 13 straight makes _ and Tony Snell added a 3-pointer, trimming the lead to 105-98.
The Pistons made a charge late in the first half, sparked by Rose, who had eight straight points for the Pistons. In the midst of that, the Hawks had an 8-0 run, including a four-point play by Young and a putback by Bembry.
The Pistons finished the half with an 8-0 run off a 3-pointer from Snell, a Drummond dunk and a 3-pointer by Langston Galloway to move ahead, 63-60.
