Pistons beat Bulls in overtime, improve to 3-0 on the season

DETROIT – The Detroit Pistons pulled off another close victory Friday against the Chicago Bulls, improving to 3-0 after a four-point win in overtime.

Detroit trailed, 39-35, at the half, but stormed back into a tie with another strong 3rd quarter, outscoring Chicago 29-25. The Pistons jumped out to a five-point lead early in the 4th quarter behind an Anthony Tolliver three-pointer, but with three minutes left, the Bulls held a two-point lead.

Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond hit a pair of short shots to give Detroit a lead with under two minutes to go, but Derrick Rose came right back and tied it at 83 with a driving layup at 1:25 remaining.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope shut down Rose on the final possession of regulation to force a tough 17-foot jumper and send the game into overtime.

The Pistons made their first three shots in overtime and used a 7-0 run to build a 90-83 lead. From there, Drummond and Jackson made just enough free throws to hold off a late Bulls charge and win the game, 98-94.

Marcus Morris led the Pistons with 26 points on 10 of 15 shooting, also pitching in seven rebounds and two assists. Jackson scored 22 points and added seven assists and seven rebounds.

Drummond finished with 20 points and 20 rebounds, his third double-double in three games to begin the season.

Off the bench, Tolliver scored 11 points and Stanley Johnson scored seven. Steve Blake picked up five assists in 16 minutes and Aron Baynes grabbed six rebounds in 14 minutes.

The Bulls (2-1) were paced by Jimmy Butler, 23 points, and Nikola Mirotic, 22 points. Rose finished with only eight points against a tough Detroit defense.

Detroit will take the weekend off and return to the court Tuesday against the Indiana Pacers.