The Detroit Pistons made a thunderous statement on Tuesday night, absolutely demolishing the Chicago Bulls 132-92 and setting multiple franchise records in the process. In a rivalry matchup between Central division foes, it was the upstart Pistons who delivered the knockout blow early and never looked back.
Pistons Charge Out to Historic Halftime Lead
Detroit came out of the gates on fire, scoring at will against a helpless Bulls defense. By the time the halftime buzzer sounded, the Pistons had built an astonishing 71-29 advantage – the largest halftime lead in team history. The 42-point margin eclipsed the previous record of 34, which had stood since way back in 1969 against these same Bulls.
“I’ve never seen anything like that first half,” marveled Pistons head coach Dwane Casey. “Our guys were locked in on both ends, making shots, getting stops. It was beautiful basketball.”
Beasley Bombs Away, Sets Franchise Mark
Leading the onslaught for Detroit was sharpshooter Malik Beasley, who couldn’t miss from long range. Beasley drained 7 of his 10 three-point attempts on the night, giving him 212 makes from beyond the arc on the season. That total surpassed the previous single-season Pistons record of 211, set by Saddiq Bey just last year.
“Malik was unconscious out there,” said teammate Cade Cunningham. “When he gets in that zone, it’s a thing of beauty. He’s unguardable.”
Cunningham Stuffs Stat Sheet in Rout
Not to be outdone, Cunningham had a stellar all-around game in the blowout win. The third-year guard finished with:
- 20 points
- 7 assists
- 6 rebounds
He orchestrated the potent Pistons attack to perfection, consistently setting up his teammates for open looks as Detroit shot a blistering 55% from the field as a team. With Cunningham at the controls, this young Pistons squad looks poised to make some noise in the second half of the season.
Bulls Brick Their Way to Infamy
On the other side, it was a night to forget for the Bulls, who set some dubious records of their own. Chicago missed its first 20 attempts from three-point range, a new franchise mark for futility. They would go on to shoot a dreadful 10-for-47 (21.3%) from deep and just 35% from the field overall.
The United Center crowd tried to rally their squad, erupting in mock cheers for made baskets as the deficit ballooned. But the boos eventually rained down in a show of frustration with their team’s lack of fight.
“We probably deserved it,” admitted Bulls guard Josh Giddey. “It’s on us players to give them something to cheer for, and being down 40 in the first half is unacceptable.”
Pistons Aim to Carry Momentum into Break
For Detroit, this beatdown was about more than a single win over a rival. With the All-Star break looming, the Pistons have now reeled off 3 straight victories to ensure a winning record at the unofficial halfway point for the first time since 2009.
With young building blocks like Cunningham and Beasley rounding into form and the taste of winning fresh in their mouths, the Pistons will look to ride this wave of momentum down the stretch. The future is bright in the Motor City.
Meanwhile, Chicago will try to quickly flush this embarrassing effort as they host these same Pistons again on Wednesday in a revenge spot. Given how dramatically things can change from one night to the next in the NBA, the Bulls get an immediate shot at atonement. We could be in for a spirited showdown at the United Center in Round 2 of this division battle.
