NBA | Bulls finally secure first win
CHICAGO - The push and the extra motivation the struggling Chicago Bulls needed came from the team that eliminated them from the playoffs last spring.
After a surprising 0-4 start, Chicago beat the Detroit Pistons 97-93 on Thursday night, riding 19 points and 14 rebounds from Tyrus Thomas for that elusive first victory.
“It just feels a lot better. We got a quality win over one of the best teams in the league,” said Chicago’s Kirk Hinrich, who had 14 assists. “Now we’ve got to play better basketball and be more consistent.”
The Bulls had to overcome a 36-point night from Rasheed Wallace - his most in a Pistons uniform - to send Detroit to its first loss after opening with three wins.
No one could stop Wallace’s assortment of shots, although he missed two key shots in the final minute.
“Regardless of my game, it ended in an ‘L,’ ” Wallace said. “I’m old school, so it didn’t matter what I did, the team lost the game.”
Luol Deng added 17 points and Ben Gordon had 16 for the Bulls.
Richard Hamilton scored 18 points for the Pistons, who eliminated the Bulls in six games in the Eastern Conference semifinals last spring.
“Hopefully getting a win against a good team like Detroit will give us some confidence,” Gordon said, relieved that the early losing streak is finally over. “It was definitely a burden.”
Gordon made the first of two free throws after being fouled by Hamilton to give the Bulls a 95-93 lead with 26 seconds remaining.
After a timeout, Wallace’s turnaround attempt over Thomas hit the rim and came off with 13 seconds to go.
Joe Smith and Thomas had free throws to seal the win.