Surging Hawks snap the East-leading Pistons' 4-game winning streak with a 130-129 win in overtime

DETROIT (AP) — CJ McCollum scored 27 points, making the tiebreaking three-point play in overtime, and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Detroit Pistons 130-129 on Wednesday night.

Jalen Johnson also had 27 points and came close to another triple-double, finishing with 12 assists and eight rebounds.

The surging Hawks improved to 15-2 since the All-Star break, best in the Eastern Conference, and snapped Detroit's four-game winning streak.

Jalen Duren had 26 points and 14 rebounds for the Pistons, who lost for the first time since All-Star Cade Cunningham sustained a collapsed left lung. Tobias Harris scored 22 points and Daniss Jenkins had 19 points and 10 assists for the East leaders.

Atlanta had a 21-point lead in the first half that Detroit wiped away quickly in the third quarter. McCollum scored the Hawks' final 11 points of regulation, including a three-point play that gave them a 121-116 lead with 44 seconds remaining. But Detroit rallied again and he missed a jumper that would have won it on the final possession.

He got another chance in OT and his three-point play made it 126-123. The Pistons had a chance to win it, but Harris missed a jumper and Duren was short on a follow shot.

The Hawks scored 11 straight points to extend a six-point lead to 56-39 midway through the second quarter, then had an 11-2 spurt just before the half to make it 73-52. The Pistons then scored the first 16 points of the third quarter, trimming Atlanta's 73-55 halftime advantage to 73-71.

Atlanta avoided a four-game sweep in the season series. The Pistons had a season-high 142 points in December in the last meeting, but the Hawks are the hottest team in the East now while surging into sixth place entering play Wednesday.

Hawks: Visit Boston on Friday.

Pistons: Host New Orleans on Thursday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) goes in for a layup past Detroit Pistons forward Paul Reed (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren, left, and Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher scramble for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) takes a shot against Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (12) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) passes the ball against Detroit Pistons guard Javonte Green (31) and center Jalen Duren, center, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

TORONTO (AP) — Dakota Joshua had a goal and an assist, Joseph Woll made 40 saves and added an assist, and the Toronto Maple Leafs topped the Rangers 4-3 on Wednesday night, eliminating New York from playoff contention.

Jake McCabe, Nick Robertson and John Tavares had the other goals for Toronto and Matias Maccelli added two assists. Woll picked up the second assist on Joshua’s goal for his first NHL point.

Mika Zibanejad scored two goals and Alexis Lafreniere had a goal and two assists for the Rangers, while Igor Shesterkin stopped 14 shots. Adam Fox chipped in two assists.

New York, which will finish below the postseason cutline for a second straight season, sits second-to-last in the overall standings. Toronto ranks 21st and is on the way to missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

Tavares scored his 26th goal of the season at 11:57 of the third period to make it 4-2 when he ripped a shot past Shesterkin after Toronto had built a 3-0 lead in the second.

New York's Adam Sykora made his NHL debut after being called up from the Hartford Wolf Pack. The 21-year-old winger, selected 63rd overall at the 2022 draft, had 12 goals and 17 assists for 29 points across 62 games in the AHL this season.

Toronto's William Nylander is one point away from passing his father, Michael, for family bragging rights. The winger has 679 points in 741 regular-season games. The elder Nylander registered 679 points in 920 contests.

New York, which tied a dubious franchise record with just 10 shots in Monday’s 2-1 home loss to the Ottawa Senators, directed 14 attempts on target in Wednesday’s opening period. The visitors had 17 more shots on Woll in the second.

Rangers: Host the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night.

Maple Leafs: Visit the St. Louis Blues on Saturday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL

Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares (91) hits the post on a goal attempt as New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) reacts during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nicholas Robertson (89) drives the puck past New York Rangers defenceman Will Borgen (17) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

New York Rangers defenceman Braden Schneider (4) blocks a shot on teammate Igor Shesterkin (31) as Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares (91) looks on during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe (22) gets checked by New York Rangers forward Tye Kartye (24) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, in Toronto, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll (60) makes a save as teammate Troy Stecher (28) and New York Rangers forward Taylor Raddysh (14) look on during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)