Grant Hill averaged 21.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, 7.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game, while being named to the All-NBA First Team, and finishing third in MVP voting behind Karl Malone and Michael Jordan. Joe Dumars provided the team with 14.7 points per game, which was second on the team in scoring. Hill, Dumars and head coach Doug Collins represented the Eastern Conference during the 1997 NBA All-Star Game. Lindsey Hunter showed improvement averaging 14.2 points and 1.6 steals per game, while Otis Thorpe provided with 13.1 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. However, in the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Pistons would lose in five games to the Atlanta Hawks after taking a 2–1 series lead. Following the season, Thorpe was traded to the Vancouver Grizzlies, Terry Mills signed as a free agent with the Miami Heat, and Michael Curry signed with the Milwaukee Bucks.