Slam Dunk Central

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.

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