ATLANTA _ The Detroit Pistons delivered such a thorough beating of the Atlanta Hawks Friday that Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer pretty much waved the white flag at halftime.
The Pistons (11-10) blitzed the Hawks with a 31-10 run to start the second quarter to end all pretense of a competitive game.
They rolled to a 37-point lead in the second half before settling for "only" a 121-85 thumping at Philips Arena.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 15 of his game-high 23 points in the first quarter, as the Pistons completed a perfect three-game trip in rousing fashion.
The reeling Hawks dropped their fifth straight. They were without leading scorer Paul Millsap (sore left hip).
Dennis Schroder led the Hawks with 17 points and 11 assists.
Andre Drummond dominated Hawks center Dwight Howard. Drummond went for 14 points and 14 rebounds, while Howard only managed two points and six rebounds.
Tobias Harris finished with 18 points and Marcus Morris scored all 12 of his points in the third quarter.
The Pistons shot 53.9 percent from the field and 58.6 percent from 3-point range.
After Caldwell-Pope's strong first quarter, the Pistons slammed the door in the second quarter.
Fueled by nine points from Beno Udrih and 11 points from Drummond, the run ended with the Pistons leading by 24 points at 58-34.
Budenholzer apparently was so disgusted that he started a unit of reserves to start the second half.
Eight Pistons scored in double figures.
Caldwell-Pope got things started with two early 3-pointers, as the Pistons forced the Hawks to miss their first five shots in taking a quick 8-0 lead.
Caldwell-Pope kept shooting, challenging George Yardley's franchise record for shots in a quarter (15) with 13 attempts in the first.
But he was a model of efficiency and his fast-break layup at the 2:19 mark gave him 15 points on 6-for-13 shooting. The Pistons led, 24-18.
Jon Leuer's three-pointer gave the Pistons their largest lead of the first, 27-18. They settled for a 58-39 lead at halftime.
