(Sports Network) - Two teams headed in opposite directions early in the NBA season meet in Dixie Wednesday as the unbeaten Atlanta Hawks play host to the winless Detroit Pistons at Philips Arena.
The Hawks stayed perfect on Tuesday in Cleveland when Marvin Williams scored a team-high 22 points and Al Horford added 16 points and 12 rebounds, as Atlanta defeated the Cavaliers, 100-88.
Joe Johnson and Mike Bibby each finished with 15 points apiece, with Johnson adding nine assists for the Hawks, who are off to their best start since the 2008-09 campaign when it began 6-0 and are the only undefeated team left in the Eastern Conference. Jamal Crawford chipped in 16 points in a reserve role.
"I really wanted to be aggressive tonight from the jump," Williams said. "Last game, I wasn't aggressive at all. I don't really like to play like that; it hurts my team when I'm not aggressive. I wanted to come out and establish myself early, and I was able to do it."
The Pistons, meanwhile, are pointed in a downward direction after getting trounced by the defending Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics in Auburn Hills last night.
Kevin Garnett finished with 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field and Paul Pierce contributed 21 points in that one as the Celtics took a convincing 109-86 victory.
Charlie Villanueva finished with 17 points and seven rebounds, and Austin Daye added 16 points for the Pistons, who have started the season 0-4, their worst record since they began the 1999-2000 season at 0-5.
Rodney Stuckey and Ben Gordon had 15 and 14 points, respectively, for Detroit.
"It just seems like last year is starting all over again, with the injuries and stuff like that," Stuckey said. "It's frustrating. The main thing -- the guys we have, we've got to stay positive and just try to work together."
These two teams split a four-game season series a year ago but the Pistons have dropped four straight in Atlanta.