Dikembe Mutombo was the NBA's defensive player of the year. In the first game of the playoffs, he showed he can score, too.
Mutombo had 26 points, a career playoff high, and the Atlanta Hawks took Game 1 of their Eastern Conference series with Detroit, beating the Pistons 89-75 Friday night.Detroit, which has not won a playoff game in five years, led 43-39 at halftime but hit only 12 of 38 shots (32 percent) in the second half.
Mutombo kept the Hawks in the game with his offensive output, then Atlanta's guards took control in the final period. Steve Smith had eight points and Mookie Blaylock five in the fourth when the Hawks pulled away from a three-point lead entering the period.
Mutombo, in his first season with the Hawks, eclipsed his previous career high of 23 points set in a 1994 game against Utah when he played with the Denver Nuggets. Mutombo made 10 of 14 shots and also had 15 rebounds.
Atlanta broke open a tight game after Terry Mills drove for a basket that pulled with Pistons to 66-64 with 8:09 remaining. Blaylock hit a 3-pointer, Mutombo connected on a hook and Smith finished off the spurt with a 3-pointer and a layup off a loose ball. The 10-2 run gave the Hawks a 76-66 lead and Detroit never got within eight the rest of the way.
Grant Hill, who suffered a case of food poisoning earlier in the week, burned the Hawks in the first half with his superior quickness, scoring 14 points. He finished with 20 to lead the Pistons, but Atlanta kept him off-balance by continually switching its coverage in the second half.
Detroit, which has not won a playoff game since May 1, 1992, was swept by Orlando last season after missing the postseason for three consecutive seasons.
All five Atlanta starters scored in double figures.