Bulls at Pistons
The Detroit Pistons can match their longest winning streak of the season when they continue a long homestand against the Chicago Bulls on Friday. Wins over Houston, Phoenix and New York to begin the six-game homestand have put the Pistons four games over .500, matching the high-water mark they attained by starting the campaign with four straight victories.
Blake Griffin scored 30 points while hitting 12 of the team's season-high 32 made free throws in a 115-108 defeat of the Knicks on Tuesday. "Blake used his experience in the post and is finally getting some respect in the post that he deserves," coach Dwane Casey told reporters. "Not too many teams have a post-up player like Blake in the league that demands to see how you're going to call it." Griffin went for 33 points and 12 rebounds in a two-point win at Chicago earlier this season. The Bulls have yet to put together consecutive wins and are in a virtual tie at the bottom of the Eastern Conference after dropping their fourth straight game Wednesday at Milwaukee.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), FS Detroit
ABOUT THE BULLS (5-17): Chicago's last two losses have come by a total of four points and it scored 40 first-quarter points in a valiant effort at Milwaukee before falling 116-113. "I love how we're competing right now," coach Fred Hoiberg told reporters after his team's fifth straight road loss. "I thought we did execute down the stretch. When we have our movement, we have a lot of great looks at the basket." Zach LaVine and Jabari Parker scored 24 points apiece and Ryan Arcidiacono chipped in with his second straight 22-point effort.
ABOUT THE PISTONS (11-7): The bench provided a big boost in the win over the Knicks, led by Stanley Johnson (21 points), Ish Smith (nine points, seven assists) and Zaza Pachulia (nine points on 3-of-3 shooting). Johnson is averaging 11.2 points on 47.1 percent shooting in 10 games as a reserve after he struggled to produce 7.1 points on 35.2 percent in seven starts. "Stan's been good ever since Coach made the move," Smith told reporters of his running mate off the bench. "I know he probably wasn't happy about it, but I remember when the move was made he said, 'Ish, let's roll. Let's run.' When he's able to play with freedom, play with pace and be confident and just play his game, that's when he's at his best. He's been huge."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. LaVine has scored at least 24 points in five straight games while averaging 6.6 assists -- two more than his norm for the season.
2. Pistons C Andre Drummond leads the NBA in rebounding with 16 per game. He's also 1-for-12 from the foul line over his last two contests.
3. Detroit has taken each of the last four meetings and owns a 130-129 advantage in the all-time series.