On Monday night at the United Center, the Detroit Pistons dismantled the Chicago Bulls in a 132 to 92 rout. The Bulls appeared disengaged from the opening tip.
It wasn’t until the four-minute mark that Chicago scored in double digits, while Detroit had already built a solid lead. Despite their effort, the Bulls struggled to match the Pistons’ physicality, particularly from Ausar Thompson.
At one point, Thompson shoved Matas Buzelis aside while going for a dunk. To add insult to injury, the Bulls missed every three-point attempt in the first quarter. The opening quarter foreshadowed what would come for the rest of the game.
The second quarter saw an even worse performance from the Bulls. After nearly an entire quarter without a three-pointer, Ayo Dosunmu saved the day by hitting one at 1:11, cutting the Detroit lead down to 30.
Billy Donovan attempted to integrate some of the new acquisitions into the rotation, like Tre Jones and Kevin Huerter, only for them to fit right into the disaster that is the Chicago Bulls. Even Zach Collins saw the floor at one point when Nikola Vucevic had to go back to the locker room for a possible injury. From free throws to rebounds, Detroit outperformed the Bulls in every statistic in the first half.
The Bulls did not stand a chance coming out of halftime, with Pistons veterans Tobias Harris and Malik Beasley knocking down all their shots. Buzelis tried to bring life to the Bull's offense by hitting a few three-pointers in a row, but the rest of his team did not follow.
Billy Donovan signaled defeat by clearing the bench in the final quarter, indicating to the Pistons that the Bulls had accepted their fate. Surprisingly, the Bulls outscored the Pistons in the last stretch; however, it did not mean much for the Pistons already built a monstrous lead.
As both teams rebuild, it’s clear that the Pistons are further along in that process than the Bulls. Hopefully, the boos from fans will influence some kind of course correction for the players and the front office.
What's On Tap Next?
The Chicago Bulls look to right their wrongs as they once again face off against the Detroit Pistons at the United Center. Tip-off is at 7 pm CT and will air on Chicago Sports Network (CHSN).
