NIKOLA Vučević scored 22 points and DeMar DeRozan contributed 20 points and 12 rebounds to boost the host Chicago Bulls to a 133-87 rout of the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night.
The Bulls shot 54.3% and led by as many as 47 points, seizing control with a 17-0 run to start the third quarter. Lonzo Ball, one of eight Bulls who scored in double figures, opened the surge with a three-point play, and Vučević closed it with a trey.
Vučević amassed 16 points in the third quarter, outscoring the Pistons by two.
Chicago has won 10 straight against Detroit and 10 of 11 overall.
Ball scored 18 points for the Bulls, who matched a season high in points and 3-pointers (18). Coby White had 13 and Zach LaVine, Ayo Dosunmu, Alfonzo McKinnie and Matt Thomas chipped in 10 apiece.
Josh Jackson paced the Pistons with 16 points. Saddiq Bey followed with 14 points and Isaiah Stewart had 11. Killian Hayes produced team bests of five assists and four steals to go with eight points.
DeRozan finished three assists shy of a triple-double, while LaVine was one rebound and three assists short. Troy Brown, Jr. collected a career-best six steals for the Bulls.
Coming off a career-high, 29-point effort in Monday’s home win against Utah, Detroit rookie Cade Cunningham was limited to eight points on Tuesday. Cunningham battled first-half foul trouble, retreating to the bench with his third foul with 6:07 remaining before half time.
Chicago took a 61-52 lead into the break, recovering from a sluggish start to shoot 53.7% in the first 24 minutes. The Bulls finished the first quarter on a 14-5 run before outscoring the Pistons 33-25 in the second quarter.
Pistons coach Dwane Casey returned to the bench on Tuesday after missing Monday’s game due to the NBA’s health and safety protocol for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Casey said he had successive negative tests on Sunday night and Monday.
The Bulls clinched the season series against the Pistons by beating their Central Division rival for the third time in as many games. The teams are set to play in Detroit on March 9. — Reuters
