Chicago Bulls, NBA – Chicago Bulls/Detroit Pistons – End of the first quarter

Theo Ratliff starts due to injury to Rasheed Wallace. Both the Pistons and Bulls start off a bit cold. Bulls 3 quick fouls on Detroit in the first 2 minutes. Flip Saunders is 162-64 as head coach of the Detroit Pistons, which is great, but they look to him for postseason success.

The Bulls allow Detroit too many second chances on offense. Larry Hughes playing tough defense on Chauncey Billups, nice effort from Hughes. Larry Hughes definitely adds an extra shooting punch for the Bulls. Pistons start the game 1-8 shooting. Hinrich again had problems with early fouls, he came out with 2 in the first 5 minutes.

Billups hits by Ben Gordon for layup and free throw. History of the Chicago Bulls – always worked by the biggest guards in the NBA. Drew Gooden seems hesitant, missing a few frowned upon shots. Pistons 9-9 of the line. Billups hits a big 3-pointer in the corner to put the Pistons up 16-12.

Bulls begin to look confused on the offensive end. Bill 10 points. Joakim Noah very good movement in the paint and the crowd. It’s a breath of fresh air to see a Bulls big man making an offensive play with authority. Shannon Brown looks great with Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich on the bench with foul trouble. He’s going to get some playing time tonight.

Pistons killing Bulls on offensive boards, even without Sheed. Richard Hamilton hits a 3-pointer as the result, Detroit Pistons up 21-17. The Pistons start to pull away late in the quarter, hitting their shots while the Bulls are freezing.

Detroit Pistons 29, Chicago Bulls 19

Chicago Bulls, NBA – Chicago Bulls/Detroit Pistons – Halftime Post

Chicago Bulls beat Detroit Pistons 16-8 in the first quarter. Aaron Gray looked horrible in his few minutes. Joakim Noah returns after a few minutes rest. Pistons up 31-19, and if the Bulls aren’t careful, this could get out of hand.

Tyrus Thomas playing quiet minutes tonight. Big question where the offense will come from at this rate. Luol Deng stepped in as an interesting guard move for Coach Boylan. Deng immediately left to post a smaller guard from Detroit. That’s something he was desperate to see Luol Deng do this season. Bulls being careless with the ball, making foolish turnovers.

Ben Gordon with a shot from a high arc to bring the Bulls within 9, 34-25. The bulls need to do a better job on the boards. Gordon another sweater, getting warmer. Gordon has triples. 34-30 Pistons-Timeout Detroit Pistons.

If only Ben Gordon could be more consistent, he would surely be a star. The guy is instantly offended. Billups hits an open jumper on a second chance shot. The Bulls came close and then the starting Pistons got back to a 6-point lead (38-32). Billups another key jumper after the Bulls’ energetic defensive position.

Methodical Pistons with Billups/Hamilton working quietly over smaller Bulls guards. Drew Gooden scoreless, doing his best Ben Wallace impersonation. The Bulls just look outclassed, like the Pistons can roll whenever they want.

Detroit up 49-37, Luol Deng’s goal dunks open under the basket. Theo Ratliff strong on the boards tonight. Billups a crushing triple….Mr. Big Shot again, 20 points tonight.

Detroit Pistons 54, Chicago Bulls 43

Chicago Bulls, NBA – Chicago Bulls/Detroit Pistons – End of 3rd Quarter Announced

Ben Gordon is the only reason the Chicago Bulls are still in this game, going 6-6 from the field. The Pistons outscore the Bulls 27-15 at the half, which translates to 13-4 second chance points in Detroit’s favor.

Good game by Luol Deng to open the second half, cutting the lead to 9. Deng being aggressive, driving it to the basket. Luol Deng should do more of this, as it’s one of the best dimensions in his game.

The Bulls are down by 7 with 9:00 remaining, but you feel like the Pistons can turn it on whenever they want. They seem bored sometimes, waiting for the NBA Playoffs, maybe. Fourth foul on Kirk Hinrich: He always seems to be in foul trouble.

60-54 Pistons and Bulls hanging around. Joakim Noah again took it to the hole, another good play in the post. Detroit’s offense has cooled in recent minutes, while the Bulls seem more fluid on the offensive end. The bulls are taking it to the basket, unlike the first half. The Pistons may be starting to miss Rasheed Wallace’s presence right now.

Timeout for the Pistons as they lead, but by just 2, 62-60. Chauncey Billups with 23 points midway through the 3rd quarter. Billups said the Detroit Pistons are still the team to beat, even though they recently lost to the only team above them in the NBA East, the Boston Celtics. Tayshaun Prince hurt his right elbow, but will stay in the game to shoot his free throws. It looks like the Pistons are up 20, but Detroit is 66-60. The Pistons go to the zone, to try to fight the Bulls by taking them to the basket. The Bulls aren’t the best when defenses go into zone coverage against them. The game has slowed down considerably.

I guess Prince is fine when he hits a 3. The zone is in, and the Bulls are more than happy to start taking jump shots. For starters, the Chicago Bulls are nothing but jump shot lovers. Andrés Nocioni hits a triple to make it 69-66, while Billups responds with a jumper of his own. Prince with a left-handed jam, 75-67 Pistons.

Ben Gordon 7-7 from the field, and holds the Bulls in this game. Larry Hughes drives one to the basket, he’s been quiet. Things are getting tough as Gordon was hit a second time in about a minute taking him to the hole.

Detroit Pistons 81, Chicago Bulls 78

Chicago Bulls, NBA – Chicago Bulls/Detroit Pistons – End of Fourth Quarter Announced

Chauncey Billups with 29 points early in the 4th. Larry Hughes with a circus shot, driving it to the basket to bring the Bulls to 83-80. The Chicago Bulls defense misses on two straight possessions. Tayshaun Prince dives into the empty paint to give the Pistons a 6-point lead.

The bulls are taking it deeper, even against the zone, which is a good sign. Kirk Hinrich hasn’t been a factor with 4 fouls. He has a habit of disappearing sometimes. Deng and Noah 2 on 1 break up Luol Deng’s steal brings it to 91-90 Pistons, 8:00 left.

The Detroit Pistons get the big shot when they need it. Tayshaun Prince responds with two open. The best teams always get the second shot, the great defensive stop. Deng’s dunk gives him 17. Ben Gordon hits another jumper, 98-94 Pistons.

1995-1996 was the last time the Chicago Bulls swept the Detroit Pistons in the season series (4-0), and if the Bulls win tonight this feat will be doubled. That area still gives the Bulls tantrums. Drew Gooden finally makes his presence felt with a big dunk at 4:00, the free throw makes it 102-97 to the Pistons.

When the Detroit Pistons score 100+ points, they’re 27-1, they’re 100+.

Rip Hamilton with a nice jumper, Pistons 107-99 with 3:00 remaining. The Detroit Pistons are too good, which is why they’re in first place while the Bulls are reeling.

Nocioni’s 3-pointer brings the Bulls within 5, 110-105 under 1:00. Missed Pistons shot and of course an offensive rebound for the Pistons.

Final: Detroit Pistons 116, Chicago Bulls 109

Chicago Bulls, NBA – Pistons def. Bulls, 116-109

The Detroit Pistons avoided a season sweep at the hands of the Chicago Bulls, as Ben Gordon scored 27 points on 10-12 FG shooting. The defense duo of Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton was too much for the Bulls.

Too many offensive rebounds for the Detroit Pistons finished off the Chicago Bulls tonight. Guard Chauncey Billups made history, hitting shot after shot to keep the Chicago Bulls at bay. The Bulls have a big problem with Billups, as Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon are no match for Billups defensively.

Kirk Hinrich was absent in action, playing just 18 minutes and in constant foul trouble. The Chicago Bulls defense collapsed in the second half as the Pistons were able to come in and get easy baskets, filling up the Chicago lane. Single-handed defenders equal easy cleats. The Pistons led the rebounding department, 42-28.

This is not the job of a playoff team. The Bulls can get in, but it will be due to a weakened NBA East, and teams like the New Jersey Nets and Atlanta Hawks are in the same boat as the Bulls in terms of quality.

The Bulls are now 25-38 on the season, and they go home to face the equally tough Utah Jazz at the United Center on Tuesday night.