Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan commended his team’s resilience following their commanding 127-105 victory over the Detroit Pistons, a game that marked a historic low for the Pistons, who suffered their franchise-record 67th loss of the season.
Led by DeMar DeRozan’s stellar performance with 39 points, the Bulls delivered a formidable display, securing their place with home-court advantage in the Eastern Conference play-in game against the Atlanta Hawks.
Donovan, expressing satisfaction with his team’s journey, reflected, “This season got off to a rough start for us, and I really appreciate the guys in our locker room sticking together and fighting. They never quit and never made excuses, even when we were losing players.”
With their upcoming fixtures against Washington and the New York Knicks, Donovan hinted at possible adjustments in the lineup, considering the impact of securing home-court advantage. “We will have to evaluate things with a game tomorrow and then the New York game at 1:00,” he stated, indicating discussions with players regarding playing time.
Nikola Vucevic’s contribution with 27 points and 11 rebounds bolstered the Bulls’ victory, supported by Coby White’s 18 points. White, when asked about his playing time, maintained a focused stance, stating, “I just work here, bro.”
Despite a commendable effort from Jalen Duren and Marcus Sasser, who scored 20 points each for the Pistons, the team faced a significant deficit throughout the game. Detroit, missing Cade Cunningham due to knee management, struggled to maintain momentum, suffering their sixth consecutive loss.
Reflecting on the game, Pistons coach Monty Williams acknowledged the challenge posed by turnovers, which contributed to 34 points for the Bulls. “They just had so many more opportunities — they played in transition almost the whole night because of our turnovers,” Williams lamented.
The Bulls, holding a 64-55 lead at halftime, continued their dominance into the second half, with DeRozan and Vucevic leading the charge. DeRozan’s 3-pointer in the third quarter stretched their lead further, sealing a decisive victory for Chicago.
As the regular season draws to a close, both teams aim to end on a positive note, with the Bulls relishing their postseason prospects and the Pistons seeking to maintain morale amid a challenging campaign.
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