Hawks vs Pistons final score: Atlanta comes back but can't win in Detroit 85-84

The Hawks played without urgency for most of the game, getting into foul trouble and failing to stop the Pistons in a first half that saw the Hawks get down 15 going into halftime and only scoring 36 total points.

The Hawks have long struggled with winning in Detroit, won-loss records aside, and for three quarters the voodoo that Motown has over the Hawks permeated every facet of the Hawks game.

Josh Smith started strong, but go into foul trouble and, by the time the Hawks got back into the game, he was a spectator, ending the game with 20 points, two blocks and two steals.

Al Horford was his usual boss self, scoring 18 points on 9-13 shooting, grabbing 15 boards and nearly brought the Hawks all the way back at the end of a 22-11 Hawks fourth quarter.

After some big threes by Kyle Korver and Lou Williams got the Hawks back into the mix, down three, with six seconds left on the clock, Horford launched what looked to be a game tying three, the kind that Hawks fans have seen from bigs like Chris Bosh and others against them all the time in big situations. Horford made the shot, sending everybody on the PTH Game Thread bonkers, but upon video review, his big toe or something touched the line and it was reduced to a two-point shot and the Hawks still trailed by one.

However, there is a reason why lottery teams have been in the lottery and the Pistons drew up one of the craziest inbounds plays I have ever seen -- and likely not to see again.

With no timeouts, Tayshaun Prince was inbounding the ball. But the Pistons chose to only give him two targets to throw to, leaving the lanky forward with no place to go as the internal five second clock must have been banging loudly in his head.

Prince turned the ball over on the pass, the Hawks called timeout and setup the final play.

The ball came into Horford, but was immediately fouled. Then it looked as if the Hawks had a second play called, maybe the show and go with Horford on the high post with a guard looking like he's going to take a handoff from Al.

The ball came to Al but there was no guard, so Al tossed the ball into the corner to Lou Williams, but Lou's shot over Andre Drummond meekly hit the side of the backboard and the Pistons survived.

It was a rough game for some of the PTH favorites as Zaza, Ivan and Jenkins didn't have it going on a night where the Hawks desperately needed a spark throughout.

The Hawks travel back home to play the hated Boston Celtics Saturday night.

For more on this game check out Detroit Bad Boys.