Josh Giddey's return was a bright spot, but it wasn't enough to halt the Chicago Bulls' slide. The Bulls find themselves in a deepening identity crisis after their eighth consecutive loss, this time to the Detroit Pistons.
Welcoming back Josh Giddey and Tre Jones, the Bulls hoped for a late-season surge. However, their aspirations for a Play-In spot seem to be slipping away as they continue to search for their true identity on the court.
The Bulls fell to the Pistons 126-110 at the United Center, marking their sixth loss since the trade deadline. With the season at a crossroads, Chicago faces a tough decision: push for a Play-In spot or consider rebuilding for the future.
Giddey led the Bulls with 27 points and six rebounds, while Matas Buzelis, Isaac Okoro, and Jalen Smith each contributed 15 points. Buzelis also shone defensively with a career-high six blocks.
For the Pistons, Jalen Duren was a force, tallying 26 points and 13 rebounds. Cade Cunningham supported with 18 points and 13 assists.
The game started with Buzelis feeding Giddey for Chicago's first field goal. Guerschon Yabusele, in his first start for the Bulls, made an impact with an and-one finish, though he missed the free throw. Giddey quickly found his rhythm, hitting his second three-pointer, and a hustle play from Yabusele led to a Buzelis transition triple, giving the Bulls an early lead and forcing a Detroit timeout.
Chicago was on fire from beyond the arc, hitting six of their first seven attempts. Giddey stayed hot with another triple, and Smith followed suit to keep the Bulls ahead. Okoro added to the three-point barrage, but Detroit fought back to take the lead late in the first quarter.
A scoring drought hit the Bulls, but Patrick Williams broke it with a three-pointer. Smith added two free throws and another three, while also blocking Daniss Jenkins' last shot of the period, keeping the Bulls ahead 30-28.
The second quarter saw both teams ramp up the defensive intensity, with Chicago blocking four consecutive shots. Okoro and Buzelis combined for five points, but Detroit regained the lead at 39-37.
Nick Richards made a key defensive play, blocking Tobias Harris and setting up Giddey for an alley-oop. The Bulls closed the gap to 45-43.
As halftime approached, Cunningham hit a fadeaway and orchestrated a fastbreak finish for Duren. Anfernee Simons scored four points late in the half, but Giddey's buzzer-beater left the Bulls trailing 53-50.
Detroit came out strong in the third quarter, with Harris and Duncan Robinson hitting consecutive threes to widen the gap. Giddey responded with a chase-down block and four points, cutting the deficit.
However, the Pistons capitalized on Bulls' turnovers, building a 15-point lead midway through the third. Chicago's defense faltered, and Detroit extended their lead to 97-76 by the end of the period.
Despite some attempts to rally, the Bulls couldn't overcome the deficit, ultimately losing by 16 points. The game highlighted Chicago's struggles and the need for a clear direction as the season winds down.