Detroit Pistons game vs. Atlanta Hawks: Time, TV as Pistons try and end losing streak

What else can really be said at this point?

The Detroit Pistons simply cannot stop losing, and their past three games have been maybe their worst of the season.

The Pistons are now riding a 23-game losing streak, topped off over the last few days by two blowout losses to the Philadelphia 76ers and one to the Milwaukee Bucks. The loss to the Bucks was so carefree for Milwaukee that Giannis Antetokounmpo had his kids join him on the bench.

It was the ugly cherry on top for an already frustrated franchise, team, and fan base.

PISTONS FANS ARE DONE: Detroit Pistons fans fed up during Bucks embarrassment: ‘Perfect night to fire Troy Weaver’

As our’ Omari Sankofa II detailed Sunday morning, the especially frustrating part about this run of bad form is the lack of solutions. The Pistons just hired a new coach, owner Tom Gores has spent money when the situations have called for it, and while general manager Troy Weaver has certainly made mistakes (you don’t lose 23 straight games without making a few bad calls), he has made some strong draft choices, like picking Jalen Duren at No. 13 in 2022 or taking Isaiah Stewart at No. 16 in 2020, two solid value picks for where they were drafted.

So who’s to blame? The players? The coaches? The front office? Ownership? The answer is probably that there’s enough blame to go around for everyone.

But as the Pistons try and figure out what went wrong and more importantly, how to fix it, the basketball games keep coming.

Unlike the three games against the 76ers and Bucks, the Pistons may actually have a chance when they visit the Hawks on Monday, who are five games below .500 and are once again disappointing. Before the 2022-23 season, the Hawks made a big-swing trade, sending multiple first-round picks to the Spurs in exchange for point guard Dejounte Murray. The idea was to pair him up with Trae Young, who has shown flashes of dominance, but not the night-to-night consistency needed to win in the NBA. So far, the pairing has not worked as many expected it to. The Hawks finished exactly .500 last year, good enough for seventh in the Eastern Conference and a first-round knockout. This year, Murray and Young have a minus-2.7 rating per 100 possessions in over 500 minutes together on the floor, which is the fourth lowest of any two-man combination on the team. That’s certainly not ideal for your two best players, who should surely be a net positive when on the floor together.

WHAT CAN YOU DO: Cade Cunningham in disbelief as Detroit Pistons embarrassment increases with each loss

Like the Pistons, the Hawks also have had some injuries that have left the team short-handed, particularly in the frontcourt. Monday’s game will be a decent chance for the Pistons to break the duck, but then again, when you’re playing like they are, nothing comes easy.

Detroit Pistons vs. Atlanta Hawks start time today

Matchup: Pistons (2-24) vs. Hawks (10-15).

Date: Monday, Dec. 18.

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET.

Where: State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

Betting line: TBD. (how to bet and get sign up bonus).

• Box score

[ MUST LISTEN: Make “The Pistons Pulse” your go-to Detroit Pistons podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify)

Detroit Pistons vs. Atlanta Hawks TV channel today

TV: Bally Sports Detroit.

Radio: WXYT-FM 97.1 (Pistons radio affiliates).

Streaming: Fubo (free trial).

If you don’t have Bally Sports Detroit, you can sign up for Fubo with a free trial to watch the Pistons all season long.

Detroit Pistons injury report vs. Atlanta Hawks

The Pistons are without starting center Jalen Duren for another week at least with a left ankle sprain. Point guard Monte Morris (right quad strain) remains out into January. Center Isaiah Stewart missed Saturday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks and will again be out for Monday’s game with what is listed as a left shoulder sprain. Guard Alec Burks will be available to play

The Hawks are also down a handful of players. Former Michigan guard Kobe Bufkin was ruled out for 8-10 weeks after fracturing his thumb in November and forward Jalen Johnson is out with a left distal radius fracture. In addition, Bogdan Bogdanovic (ankle) and Clint Capella (knee) both missed Saturday’s game against the Cavaliers and are listed as questionable for Monday’s game, while AJ Griffin (personal) and Mouhamed Gueye (back) both missed Saturday’s game are out Monday as well.

De’Andre Hunter is also questionable with right knee soreness.

LET’S TALK TRADES: Pistons have several expiring contracts to facilitate a trade soon

Pistons vs. Bucks starting lineups

Pistons: G Killian Hayes, G Cade Cunningham, F Bojan Bogdanovic, F Ausar Thompson, C Marvin Bagley III/Isaiah Stewart.

Hawks: G Dejounte Murray, G Trae Young, F Sadiq Bey, F De’Andre Hunter, F Onyeka Okongwu.

Lineups subject to change.

Pistons uniform, jersey vs. Hawks

The Pistons will wear their traditional road blue jerseys when they travel to Atlanta to face Trae Young and the Hawks. The Pistons have worn the blue jerseys just six times this season and are 1-5 when they do wear them.

The Hawks will wear their red Icon Edition jerseys that have yellow and white lining down the sides and “Atlanta” written on the chest.

Live updates

Follow updates through our curated list.

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.