Jalen Johnson has 28 points, 14 rebounds, Hawks clinch play-in berth with 121-113 win over Pistons

ATLANTA (AP) — Jalen Johnson had 28 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists for his first career triple-double and the Atlanta Hawks overcame a 50-point effort by Detroit's Malachi Flynn for a 121-113 win over the Pistons on Wednesday night that clinched a berth in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament.

De’Andre Hunter scored 26 points and Dejounte Murray finished with 24 points and 11 assists for the Hawks, who have won six of their last seven games.

Flynn, whose previous career high was 27, was 18 for 25 from the floor and 9 for 12 at the line. The 50 points was a franchise record for a reserve. He also had a season-high six rebounds, five assists and five steals in 34 minutes.

The Pistons have lost 10 of their last 11 games.

Cade Cunningham, who averages 22.7 points per game, was a late scratch with left knee injury after initially being listed in the starting lineup for Detroit.

Jalen Duren and Marcus Sasser had 11 points each for the Pistons.

The Hawks were 1 for 11 from 3-point range to start the game, but still managed to build a 59-48 halftime lead. Every time the Hawks started to pull away, Flynn helped the Pistons respond with buckets from all over the floor.

The Pistons pulled to within five points late in the fourth quarter, but could get no closer.

UP NEXT

Pistons: Visit the Grizzlies on Friday night.

Hawks: At the Mavericks on Thursday night.

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

Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) grabs the rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) goes to the basket against Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Detroit Pistons guard Marcus Sasser (25) shoots a three-pointer against Atlanta Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic (13) and Atlanta Hawks forward De'Andre Hunter (12) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela (15) blocks a shot by Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey (23) goes to the basket against Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) and Atlanta Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic (13) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey (23) dribbles the ball while guarded by Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, April 3, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Dak Prescott threw one of his two touchdown passes to CeeDee Lamb and the Dallas Cowboys taunted the Giants yet again, winning 20-15 on Thursday night for their seventh straight victory over New York and 14th in 15 games.

Prescott, who has won his last 13 starts against the Giants, hit running back Rico Dowdle on a 15-yard screen pass for a touchdown to put Dallas ahead in the first quarter. He then found Lamb for a 55-yard catch-and-run TD on a play that ended with the receiver being called for taunting.

Lamb slipped past two defenders and trotted into the end zone. He then fired the ball in their direction and flexed his muscles, drawing an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty.

Prescott finished 22 of 27 for 221 yards, while Lamb had seven catches for 98 yards.

Brandon Aubrey kicked field goals of 60 and 40 yards for Dallas (2-2), which came into the game with major concerns after being thoroughly beaten at home by New Orleans and Baltimore. A new issue for the Cowboys is an apparent leg injury to star pass rusher Micah Parsons, who was carted off the field in the fourth quarter.

Greg Joseph kicked field goals of 52, 41, 38, 22 and 42 for the Giants (1-3), who controlled the ball for 35:37 but failed to score a touchdown at home for the second straight game. They had two field goals in a 28-6 loss to Minnesota in their opener.

What hurt New York was its inability to run against the league's worst rush defense. Dallas been giving up an average of 185.7 yards, but it held the Giants to 26 yards on 24 carries, a 1.1-yard average.

Daniel Jones' arm kept this one close. He completed 29 of 40 passes for 281 yards, finding sensational rookie Malik Nabers 12 times for 115 yards and Wan'Dale Robinson 11 times for 71 yards. But the one thing he could not find was the end zone.

Nabers left late in the game with a concussion. Jones threw an interception on the Giants' final series after Aubrey missed a 51-yard field goal try — his first career miss from over 50 yards — to give New York one slim last shot.

If there was a bright spot for the Giants, they were at least competitive against a bitter rival. They lost last year's two games by an 89-17 margin.

Cowboys: DE DeMarcus Lawrence, who had a sack in the first half to run his career total to 61 1/2, left in the second half with a foot injury. ... Rookie starting CB Caelen Carson and backup S Markquese Bell (ankle) were inactive after being listed as doubtful. Andrew Booth started for Carson and was relieved by Amani Oruwariye at the start of the second half.

Giants: Nabers, the No. 6 overall draft pick and a breakout star, suffered the concussion on New York's next-to-last series.

Cowboys: At Pittsburgh for a Sunday night game on Oct. 6, the second of their five scheduled prime-time appearances.

Giants: At Seattle on Oct. 6.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) comes down with a pass on his way to scoring a touchdown against the New York Giants during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) is sacked by Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland (94) during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs (7) walks off the field with trainers during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) is sacked by Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland (94) during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Giants running back Devin Singletary (26) carries the ball against =c27= during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Amani Oruwariye (27) pulls down New York Giants wide receiver Wan'Dale Robinson (17) during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Giants wide receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton (88) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the New York Giants during the first half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)

Dallas Cowboys place kicker Brandon Aubrey (17) is congratulated by punter Bryan Anger (5) after kicking a 40-yard field goal against the New York Giants during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) passes against the New York Giants during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)