Pistons best cold-shooting Bulls, end 6-game skid

Field Level Media|published: Tue 27th February, 22:42 2024

Feb 27, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson (9) drives to the basket against Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (12) during the first half at United Center. credits: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Cade Cunningham scored 26 points and Simone Fontecchio had 11 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter to boost the visiting Detroit Pistons to a 105-95 win against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday.

Detroit snapped a six-game losing streak behind a 42-6 edge in points from 3-point shots.

The Pistons finished 14-for-37 (37.8 percent) from deep compared to a season-worst 2-for-29 (6.9 percent) showing for the Bulls, who have lost three of four.

Tied with the Washington Wizards with the NBA's worst record at 9-49, Detroit boasts two victories each against the Bulls and the Charlotte Hornets.

Chicago forced 20 turnovers while committing just six, but its poor long-range woes proved too much to overcome.

Nikola Vucevic (25 points, 10 rebounds) and Andre Drummond (20 points, 11 rebounds) both had double-doubles for Chicago, and DeMar DeRozan added 25 points.

Six Pistons scored in double figures. Jaden Ivey logged 15 points, Jalen Duren had 14 points and 10 rebounds, Ausar Thompson had 13 points and Isaiah Stewart contributed 11.

Coby White added 10 points and six assists for the Bulls.

Alex Caruso, Chicago's top defender, left the game after sustaining a hamstring injury early in the fourth quarter but returned down the stretch.

Detroit outscored Chicago 29-22 in the third quarter to take a 79-77 advantage into the fourth. The Bulls regained the lead in the opening minute of the fourth when reserve Dalen Terry swished a trey for his only points of the night.

The Bulls had missed 21 of their previous 22 long-range attempts to start the game.

Chicago led 55-50 at halftime despite a dismal, 1-for-16 effort from beyond the arc. Vucevic provided the Bulls' lone make from deep in the first half while matching DeRozan with a game-high 17 points before the break.

The duo combined on 15-of-20 first-half shooting.

Ivey and Cunningham scored 11 first-half points apiece. Detroit trailed by as many as 13 points in the second quarter but scored seven of the last nine points before intermission.

Overall, Chicago shot 39.8 percent from the floor compared to 49.3 percent for Detroit.

Fontecchio was 5-for-9 from 3-point range.

—Field Level Media