Atlanta defeated Detroit 121-113 to clinch the No. 10 seed in the East, securing them a spot in the NBA play-in tournament.
Play-In spot clinched
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) April 4, 2024
All the info you need ➡️ https://t.co/iE94FOL8pT pic.twitter.com/ztHu7e4leA
Hawks forward Jalen Johnson led Atlanta to victory, recording 28 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists. Johnson's first career triple-double couldn't have come at a better time, eliminating the Brooklyn Nets from play-in contention and securing Atlanta’s No. 10 seed in the East.
While Detroit’s starting lineup only scored 45 points, Pistons guard Malachi Flynn gave a career-high performance, scoring 50 points for the first time in his career. He also grabbed six rebounds and five assists. Flynn is just the tenth player to record 50+ points this season, joining an elite group of scorers that includes Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, and Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, to name a few.
Detroit has been eliminated from playoff contention, but Flynn showed Pistons’ fans, players, and coaches that he can gain a hot hand. Coming off the bench the entire season, Flynn averaged 5.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists a game. However, after his performance Wednesday, Flynn is proving why he deserves an opportunity to start.
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