Bulls at Pistons
THE STORY: The Chicago Bulls look to strengthen their hold on the Eastern Conference lead Friday as they visit a Detroit Pistons team they have dominated of late. Chicago has won 10 straight meetings with Detroit dating back to 2009. The Bulls are coming off a dominant win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, while the Pistons have dropped four of five.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, CSC+, FSD
ABOUT THE PISTONS (26-48): Detroit looked good in a 12-point home win over the Pacers on Sunday but came out flat in the second quarter of Wednesday's rematch in Indiana, getting outscored 35-20 on the way to a 111-101 defeat. Rodney Stuckey was the star for the Pistons, recording 24 points, nine assists and seven rebounds in a reserve role. The defeat was the ninth in a row for the Pistons away from Detroit, dropping them to 7-30 on the road this season.
ABOUT THE BULLS (54-20): Chicago bounced back from a stunning home loss to the Philadelphia 76ers in style Wednesday. Derrick Rose had 23 points and 10 assists before sitting out the entire fourth quarter of the 108-91 victory over the Timberwolves, getting the better of former junior basketball rival Kevin Love. The effort bolstered Rose's MVP resume while keeping the Bulls two games clear of Boston and Miami for home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.
WHO'S HOT/WHO'S NOT: Rose has dished out double-digit assists three times in his last five games, averaging 27.6 points and 9.8 helpers in that span. Pistons G Ben Gordon was downright dreadful in March, averaging a meager seven points – nearly five below his season average.
KEY STATISTIC: 22 – Chicago's road victories this season, third in the East behind the Heat and Celtics. The Bulls lead the conference with a 32-5 home mark.
SEASON SERIES: The Bulls have won all three meetings this season, though the Pistons managed to force overtime in one of them. Chicago controlled the last meeting Jan. 10, with Rose scoring 29 points and Carlos Boozer adding 27 in the 95-82 rout.
KEY INJURIES: DETROIT: C Ben Wallace (knee); G Terrico White (foot). CHICAGO: C Joakim Noah (ankle).
LAST WORD: “Our energy is so much better at home compared to on the road. In the NBA, if you don't come ready to play, teams find out.” – Pistons coach John Kuester on his team's struggles away from Detroit