January 20th, 2008 
Stephen Rhodes 
Posted in ????????????????????????????????????? 
One would think that the Chicago Bulls, with their existing set of problems, would?roll over against the Detroit Pistons.? Not tonight; Ben Gordon would lead the?Bulls to a relatively easy win over the Pistons 97-81 Saturday night at the United Center.? Neither team shot particularly well (Chicago at 42.3%, Detroit at 40.6%) as the first half would indicate; Chicago’s Kirk Hinrich made a jumper with 6 seconds left in the first half to put the Bulls up 50-41 at the half.
The Bulls would increase their 9 point lead to 13 when Ben Wallace hit a jumper just before the end of the third period.? Chicago was holding onto a 76-70 in the fourth, but would run off 10 straight points to gain a 16-point advantage, but the Pistons’ Chauncey Billups hit a 3-pointer and Jarvis Hayes made a free throw when fouled on the same play, putting the Pistons to within 10.? But that rally ended when Chicago rookie Joakim Noah tipped in a miss, then Gordon made a trey, then Thabo Sefolosha would dunk to give the Bulls a 13-point lead.
The Bulls’ Chris Duhon had to leave the game with 8 minutes remaining after his knee banged with Billups’ knee; Duhon was diagnosed with a left knee sprain after?X-rays were done.? The possibiility of more tests for the knee remain.? Chicago was led by the aforementioned Gordon with 33 points, while Andres Nocioni added a rather quiet 21.? Detroit was led by Billups with 27 points, while Richard Hamilton pitched in with 15; Tayshaun Prince and Hayes added 12 points each.? Chicago (16-23) will now travel to Tennessee to take on the Memphis Grizzlies Monday night, while Detroit (29-12) flies to Florida to take on the Orlando Magic – also on Monday.
