LaVine, DeRozan put Bulls over Pistons; play-in game next
Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine, right, shoots against Detroit Pistons guard Cory Joseph during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Sunday, April 9, 2023. Credit: AP/Nam Y. Huh
CHICAGO — Zach LaVine scored 17 points and DeMar DeRozan added 16 to help the Bulls end the regular season Sunday with a 103-81 win over the Detroit Pistons.
Killian Hayes had 26 points and Jaden Ivey scored 16 for the Pistons, who finished an NBA-worst 17-65.
Up 67-64 at the end of the third quarter, the Bulls put in their reserves. The bench crew, led by Carlik Jones’ 11 points, put the game away with an 11-2 run midway through the final period.
Chicago had the 10th spot in Eastern Conference standings locked up, and travel to Toronto for Wednesday's elimination game in the NBA’s play-in tournament. The winner advances to Friday’s meeting with the loser of Tuesday’s Atlanta-Miami game.
Jalen Duren had 17 rebounds for Detroit, which snapped an 11-game skid Friday night at Indiana.
The Pistons can begin hoping they win the May 16 NBA Draft lottery and a shot at selecting 7-foot-2 French superstar Victor Wembanyama. Detroit picked Cade Cunningham two years ago after winning the first selection.
TIP-INS
Detroit Pistons guard Killian Hayes, right, tries to steal the ball from Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Sunday, April 9, 2023. Credit: AP/Nam Y. Huh
Pistons: The 65 losses are Detroit’s most since the 1979-80 season, when coach Dick Vitale was fired a dozen games in and the team finished a franchise-worst 16-66.
Bulls: DeRozan, Patrick Beverley and LaVine were back in the starting lineup after getting the night off for Friday’s win at Dallas.
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