LaVine’s career-high 51 points for Bulls not enough as Pistons win

Published on Oct 28, 2023, 11:03 PM ET

Just a 2 Minute Read

DETROIT — In a thrilling matchup, Jalen Duren led the Detroit Pistons to a triumphant 118-102 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night, despite Zach LaVine’s outstanding performance of 51 points.

LaVine’s remarkable feat marked the first 50-point game of the NBA season and made him the first Bulls player since Michael Jordan in 1996 to score 50 points without any assists.

Cade Cunningham contributed significantly to the Pistons’ victory with 25 points and 10 assists, while Alec Burks added 18 points off the bench. Ausar Thompson, a rookie, played an impressive game with 9 points, 12 rebounds, and 5 assists during Detroit’s home opener.

DeMar DeRozan scored 20 points for the Bulls, but Nikola Vucevic was the only other player to reach double figures with 12 points.

Despite LaVine’s extraordinary efforts, including scoring 20 points in the third quarter, the Pistons managed to maintain the lead with Jaden Ivey’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer, giving them an 84-77 advantage.

The fourth quarter began with Cunningham’s three-point play, followed by a 3-pointer from Burks, extending the Pistons’ lead to 13 points. LaVine contributed another 10 points to help the Bulls narrow the gap to 95-89 with 8:33 remaining in the game.

However, LaVine’s individual brilliance couldn’t compensate for the lack of offensive support from his teammates, and the Bulls struggled to make defensive stops. Two clutch free throws by Cunningham extended the Pistons’ lead to 109-97 with 2:30 left on the clock, securing their victory.

Displaying an impressive shooting performance, the Pistons maintained a 60.5% field goal percentage and built a solid 57-45 lead. They also outscored the Bulls with a 25-12 advantage in bench points, with nine points each from Burks and Marvin Bagley III.