Wallace’s defense key, Bulls snap Pistons’ 5-game win streak 98-91

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under Main

Chicago Bulls forward Andres Nocioni (5) takes a shot against Detroit Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince (22) in the second half of the Bulls? 98-91 win over the Pistons Friday.

Chicago Bulls center Ben Wallace did what a lot of players of their former teams would do: hugs, high-5’s and exchange pleasantries. Then Wallace put on his game face. The Bulls outhustled the Detroit Pistons by outrebounding them 51-39; that factored into the Bulls defeating the Pistons 98-91 at Detroit Friday.A stastically oddity occured during the first half - The Bulls’ Wallace and forward Joe Smith outrebounded the entire Pistons squad during the first half, yet Detroit was only down 45-43 at halftime. Chicago would change gears in the second half; they would hold onto a one-point lead starting the fourth quarter, but would score the first 7 points of the period to take a 79-71 lead with 9:30 remaining. Detroit guard Chauncey Billups would get hot; he scored 9 points in the next three minutes and as a result, narrowed the bulls lead to 83-80.

But Bulls’ reserve forward Andres Nocioni ended the Pistons run with a 3-point play, making the lead 86-80; the Bulls would hang on for the win after that episode. Chicago was led by Nocioni with 22 from off the bench, while Luol Deng added a quiet 17 with 9 rebounds. Wallace added a solid effort, pitching in 10 while grabbing 13 rebounds and blocking 4 shots. Detroit’s leading scorer was Billups with 27 with 4 rebounds and 7 assists; Richard Hamilton chipped in with 24 while Rasheed Wallace added 18, including 3-of-7 from beyond the 3-point arc. Chicago (6-11) returns home to host the Boston Celtics Saturday night, while Detroit (13-6) remains home to host the Charlotte Hornets Sunday.

Updates, Fresh From the Oven, Straight to Your Inbox