Pistons Finally Put Away Pesky Bulls, 116-109 & Clinch Playoff Spot

Posted by Jeff Sack under Main

Chauncey Billups scored a game high 34 points, the Detroit Pistons shot 50.6% (41-81) from the floor for the game, and they beat the Chicago Bulls Sunday, but not without a struggle 116-109. Chicago late in the game would look like they were on the verge of being out of it, and then would edge right back into the contest. With the win Detroit has clinched a spot in the playoffs in the NBA Eastern Conference. Even if Detroit were to lose every game for the balance of the season, they would be?assured of making the Post Season. It is the seventh straight season that the Pistons have made the playoffs.

Detroit came out of the starting blocks strong grabbing a 29-19 lead at the end of the first quarter. Chicago started off the second quarter on a 13-5 run pulling within 2 points of the the Pistons as Luol Deng hit 2 at the line with 6:37 left in the half. But it was if the Bulls hit an invisible wall and it was 44-34 after Richard Hamilton hit an outside shot?with 3:29 left in the period. Detroit was up 54-43 as the two teams went to their respective lockers at the half. The Bulls again in the third would get close to Detroit and the fall back again, but by the end of the quarter they had cut the lead to just 3 points, as Detroit was up 81-78. Detroit was the aggressor at the top of the quarter grabbing an 89-82 lead as Tayshaun Prince slammed one home. But then Chicago went on a spurt and cut the lead to 91-90 as Joakim Noah dunked one with 8:23 left in the game. But then Detroit had a spurt as they outscored Chicago 11-4 and went up 102-94 as Theo Ratliff hit a 9 foot bunny. The Bulls never could recover.

Billups led the Pistons with 34 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds, in the victory. Richard Hamilton scored 23 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, Tayshaun Prince scored 21 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds. Theo Ratliff starting in place of Rasheed Wallace who missed his second straight game with a sprained ankle, scored 10 points, 8 boards, 3 blocks, 1 assist.

The Bulls were led once again by Ben Gordon, who finally seems to?have found his game again the last couple of weeks, he scored 27 points coming off the bench, 3 rebounds, 2 assists.? Luol Deng scored 21 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, Joakim Noah scored 15 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal. ?Larry Hughes scored 13 points, 5 assists, 1 rebound, Drew Gooden scored 11 points, 8 boards, 2 blocks, 1 steal.? Andres Nocioni scored 10 points, 2 steals, 1 rebound, as he came off the bench. Detroit with the win now sits at 46-17, Chicago is 25-38.

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