Otto Porter Jr. scored 22 points (10 in the third quarter), and the Chicago Bulls beat the Detroit Pistons 112-106.
Zach LaVine’s step-back 3-pointer put the Bulls ahead for good with 3:32 left in the fourth quarter.
The Pistons got within 107-104 on Andre Drummond’s driving layup with 1:28 to play, but Wendell Carter Jr. answered with a free throw, and the Pistons got no closer.
During clutch time, the Bulls outscored the Pistons 16-8. LaVine (No. 8 in clutch points, 2019-20) scored 10 of the Bulls’ 16 on 2 for 4 shooting and 4 for 4 at the line. With 3:56 left, Derrick Rose stole the ball from LaVine, and Tony Snell’s reverse layup off it put the Pistons ahead 100-99.
LaVine scored 26 points, and Thaddeus Young added 8 points, 9 rebounds and 3 steals off the bench.
For the Pistons, Drummond had 25 points, 24 rebounds and 3 blocks, and Rose added 23 points, 7 assists and 3 steals off the bench.
The Pistons outscored the Bulls 66-40 in the paint. The Bulls did not make a field goal in the last 3:00. The Pistons’ starters were outscored 32-19 in 11 minutes together.