Bulls outlast short-handed Pistons
DETROIT - Zach LaVine scored 33 points and Coby White added 19 to help the Chicago Bulls outlast the short-handed Detroit Pistons 119-107 on Saturday night.
The Pistons were without Blake Griffin and Derrick Rose, and the Bulls pulled away late thanks to LaVine's outside shooting. He and White made five 3-pointers apiece.
Detroit has lost four straight.
The Pistons led 59-53 at halftime but allowed 40 points in the third quarter. Chicago led 93-83 late in the period, but Markieff Morris made two 3-pointers in the last 10 seconds to cut the margin to four.
LaVine broke a 96-all tie in the fourth with a 3-pointer. Then with the Bulls up by four, Detroit challenged a foul call on Tony Snell with 4:21 left. The call was overturned, but Chicago controlled the ensuing jump ball, and LaVine made another 3 to make it 106-99.
DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 21: Coby White #0 of the Chicago Bulls tries driving against Tim Frazier #12 of the Detroit Pistons during the first half at Little Caesars Arena on December 21, 2019, in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowle
Andre Drummond had 19 points and 14 rebounds for the Pistons, who swept the season series against Chicago in 2018-19 but have lost the first three meetings with the Bulls this season.
Griffin has been dealing with an illness, and Rose missed the game with left knee soreness.
TURNOVERS
The Pistons turned the ball over 25 times in a 114-93 loss at Boston on Friday night. Then they had to face a Chicago team that entered the game forcing a league-high 18.6 turnovers per game.
Detroit had only 16 turnovers to Chicago's 21 on Saturday, but the Bulls made up for that by outrebounding the Pistons 46-29.
TIP-INS
Bulls: Wendell Carter Jr. had 12 rebounds, surpassing 600 in his 75th career game. He's the fifth player in team history to reach 600 rebounds in his first 75 games, joining Tom Boerwinkle, Elton Brand, Charles Oakley and Clifford Ray.
Pistons: Thon Maker scored seven points, surpassing 1,000 for his career. ... Christian Wood (left knee) missed the game in addition to Griffin and Rose. ... Morris scored 23 points with seven 3-pointers.
UP NEXT
Bulls: Visit the Orlando Magic on Monday night.
Pistons: Host the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night.