Bulls 106, Pistons 98: D.J. Augustin poured in 24 points off the bench as host Chicago blitzed Detroit in the fourth quarter for a season-best seventh straight win.
Carlos Boozer scored 18 points and Taj Gibson added 17 for the Bulls, who outscored the Pistons 36-18 in the final stanza to overcome a lackluster first half. Mike Dunleavy chipped in 14 points and Joakim Noah collected 12 rebounds and 10 assists to go with his six points as Chicago moved a game ahead of Toronto for the No. 3 seed in the East.
Andre Drummond notched his 55th double-double, tying his career high with 26 points and grabbing 26 rebounds for the Pistons, who were without forward Josh Smith (patellar tendinitis) and guard Will Bynum (bone spurs in foot). Rodney Stuckey scored 22 points and Brandon Jennings added 17 as Detroit lost for the 15th time in its last 16 trips to Chicago.
The Bulls were frigid in the first half, and Drummond alone outrebounded them 19-17 as Detroit built a 56-38 lead at the break. They heated up in the third quarter but the Pistons managed to keep them at bay and Stuckey's bucket at the buzzer sent Detroit into the final stanza with an 80-70 lead.
It was all Chicago in the fourth, as Detroit went scoreless for nearly five minutes while the Bulls rattled off a 15-0 run to take control. Augustin scored eight during the pivotal stretch and the Pistons never got closer than four points the rest of the way.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Noah became the ninth player in NBA history with 400 assists and 100 blocks in the same season. … Drummond is the first player in NBA history with seven 20-rebound games in a season before age 21, according to Elias Sports. … Bynum will miss the Pistons' final two games.
Detroit | Chicago | |
Andre Drummond 26 | Scoring | D.J. Augustin 24 |
Brandon Jennings 3 | Assists | Joakim Noah 10 |
Andre Drummond 26 | Rebounds | Joakim Noah 12 |
Andre Drummond 4 | Free Throws Made | D.J. Augustin 9 |
Andre Drummond 3 | Steals | Mike Dunleavy 2 |
Andre Drummond 1 | Blocks | Joakim Noah 3 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Detroit | 98 | 46.5 | 5-17 | 13-23 | 12 | 45 | 2 | 7 | 11 |
Chicago | 106 | 49.4 | 5-19 | 21-23 | 27 | 39 | 7 | 6 | 12 |