Prince leads Pistons to easy win over Bulls
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) – The Detroit Pistons punished the Chicago Bulls inside and out – again. Tayshaun Prince scored 25 points on an array of mid-range shots, a dunk in traffic and 3-pointers to lead Detroit to a 108-87 victory and a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Game 3 is Thursday in Chicago, giving the Bulls time to figure something out after being dominated in consecutive games.
Even though Prince led the way, he had plenty of help.
Richard Hamilton had 24 points, Chris Webber scored 22, and Chauncey Billups had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Rasheed Wallace added 10 points.
Chicago’s Tyrus Thomas scored 12 of his 18 points in the final quarter to prevent the Pistons from winning by 26, as they did in the series opener, but the Bulls’ stars did not shine.
Luol Deng scored 16 on 4-of-12 shooting, Ben Gordon and Ben Wallace each scored 13 and Kirk Hinrich was held to two points on 0-for-7 shooting.
Just as it did in Game 1, Detroit took control of the game with a big run in the first quarter and prevented the Bulls from rallying the rest of the way.
The Pistons led by 24 points early in the second quarter, 23 late in the third and had inside-and-out answers when Thomas helped Chicago pull to 93-80 midway through the fourth.
Rasheed Wallace dunked on Thomas and Billups made a 3-pointer to end the comeback hopes for the Bulls, who emptied their bench a few minutes later.
The Pistons are 6-0 in the playoffs, the franchise’s best winning streak in a postseason since closing the 1989 championship run with seven straight wins.