Pistons 108, Bulls 93: Bulls match Pistons’ physicality, but drop third straight

The Chicago Bulls did well to match the Pistons’ physicality through three quarters, but in the fourth, Detroit buckled down and came away with a comfortable win, 108-93.

The Bulls were without Coby White (calf), who is managing his injury on the first night of a back-to-back. Zach Collins (toe), Jalen Smith (concussion) and Josh Giddey (hamstring) remain out. Meanwhile, the Pistons were without Cade Cunningham (wrist), Jalen Duren (ankle) and Tobias Harris (hip).

Ayo Dosunmu sparked the Bulls off the bench, getting downhill and finishing some crafty shots around the rim. 7-of-9 for 15 points at the half, Dosunmu was the most consistent contributor both in scoring and keeping the Bulls playing to their identity. He was on fire all night, scoring 24 on 10-of-15 shooting.

Matas Buzelis had his fifth-straight 15-point game and his third 20-point game in the last four, scoring 20 on 46.6 percent shooting, while making four threes. He also matched his career-high with four blocks. His play was highlighted by blocking a Paul Reed three-point attempt, chasing down the loose ball on the other end and hitting his own three.

Nikola Vucevic (20 points, 16 rebounds) and Tre Jones (six points, seven rebounds, 12 assists) continue to provide stability despite combining for just 10-of-27 shooting.

With the loss, the Bulls fall to 17-20, and to 10th in the Eastern Conference.

Up next: On Thursday, the Bulls host the Miami Heat for the second time this season. Losing 143-107 on November 21 kicked off a 1-7 stretch for the Bulls following Nikola Vucevic’s ‘this is not sustainable’ rant in their previous game, a 121-120 win over Washington. 

Miami (20-17) is 5-2 in their last two weeks with a +5.6 point differential. They’re 13th in offense and sixth in defense over that time. They’ve experienced an up-and-down year themselves amid installing a spaced-out offense that neglects pick-and-roll in favor of isolations for downhill drives. 

Tune into the CHGO Bulls postgame live: 

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Without Collins and Smith, the Bulls were set up to struggle against the Pistons’ physicality, but to their credit, they met the challenge. The Pistons rank second in the NBA in offensive rebounding percentage, behind only the Houston Rockets. Despite them missing Jalen Duren, the Pistons still collected eight offensive boards for 17 second-chance points. While they could have done a better job on the defensive glass, they crushed the Pistons in that category, with 15 offensive rebounds, eight in the first quarter, for 14 second-chance points. 

In particular, Isaiah Stewart, who is not known to be an offensive focal point, gave the Bulls problems all night, registering his first-career 30-point game. He was a dominant interior force, scoring with open runways to the rim while attacking closeouts, and converting on duck-ins and post-ups.

With the frontcourt depth in trouble, Lachlan Olbrich got some action in the first quarter. Olbrich struggled boxing out, picking up several fouls trying to defend against offensive rebounds, but his physicality was a welcome presence in the lineup. Offensively, he was used out of the dunker spot and rolling into dribble handoffs. While it didn’t necessarily work well, it’s interesting to see how Billy Donovan views his fit in the offense. Olbrich had two points and five rebounds in 16 minutes with five fouls.

— Will Gottlieb

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That was…not the prettiest game of basketball we’ve ever watched. The shorthanded Bulls and equally shorthanded Pistons found themselves in a rock fight tonight. I’m sure Uncle Will Perdue and his old nemesis Bill Laimbeer loved it!

Shoutout to Dosunmu, a dude who is always ready to play any role that’s asked of him. He led the Bulls early and often off the bench tonight, scoring a very efficient 24 points. That’s his seventh straight game scoring in double figures. And the Bulls have needed it.

This Kevin Huerter shooting slump is getting rough. He shot a combined 1-11 from downtown versus Charlotte and Boston. Tonight? Tack on 0-6. Please make more of your threes, sir.

Can the faction of Bulls (or Aussie) Nation clamoring for more Olbrich minutes when the Bulls aren’t even that shorthanded…stop clamoring for now? The Bulls frontcourt is currently shorthanded without Smith and Collins, so Olbrich got real action against Boston and again tonight. 

Stat lines?

• vs. BOS: 0 points (0-1 FG), 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 fouls in 11:39

• vs. DET: 2 points (1-2 FG, 0-2 FT), 5 rebounds, 2 turnovers, 5 fouls in 15:00

…Yeah, I’m good on that.

Way to be, Buzelis. He played through some kind of illness tonight. I asked him in Pregame to fight through that, and the physical Pistons, to score 20 points. Because the Bulls needed it. He did. …They needed more lol.

— Matt Peck

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Classic Bulls game as far as playing up/down to the competition. 

Refs let them play tonight. It was scrappy and physical out there. Lotta pushing and shoving. My jam. 

Man Buzelis is growing. Each and every game, he’s getting better. And with four blocks?!? Awesome game. Keep feeding him the basketball. 

How many times am I gonna have to talk about how good and important Dosunmu is? All the time I pray. Another outstanding game from him when the team needed it.

Kevin Huerter is really struggling from three. He helps in other ways on the floor but that three-point shot is not on point this season. 

Jones pointguardsmanship was on display tonight. He has the ability to settle the team down and make the right pass.

Patrick Lee Williams is complete and unadulterated ASS.

— Big Dave