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 Chicago overcame a 36-point performance from Rasheed Wallace in the first meeting between the teams since the Pistons beat the Bulls 4-2 in the Eastern Conference semifinals last spring.
Luol Deng added 17 points and Ben Gordon had 16 for the Bulls, while Kirk Hinrich had 14 assists.
Richard Hamilton scored 18 points for the Pistons, who lost after winning their first three games.
Hamilton drove the lane for a sweeping basket as the shot clock went off, cutting the Bulls lead to 94-93 with 1:35 to play. After the teams traded turnovers, Chicago's Joe Smith missed a jumper and the Pistons had a chance to retake the lead. But Wallace's short bank shot wouldn't stay in and the Bulls rebounded with 33 seconds to go.
Gordon then made the first of two free throws after being fouled by Hamilton to give the Bulls a 95-93 lead with 26 seconds remaining.
After a timeout, Wallace's turnaround attempt over Thomas hit the rim and came off with 13 seconds to go.
But when Smith missed the first of two from the line it was 96-93 and the Pistons got one last chance for a tie. Hamilton's 3-pointer was short and the Bulls rebounded with 2.9 seconds left. Thomas' free throw sealed the victory.
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The high-leaping Thomas had several rim-shattering jams and a spectacular left-handed reverse layup late in the third quarter. He was 8-for-12 from the field.
Wallace, who hit from both the outside and off post-up moves, was 12-of-24 from the field and had nine rebounds.
In the first half, the Bulls showed the hustle they'd been lacking in four straight losses and jumped to a 12-point lead in the second quarter.
Wallace's 3-pointer helped the Pistons go on a 13-4 run and Detroit hacked the lead to 51-45 by halftime, hitting 13 of 19 free throws.
Notes: Wallace's 36 points were his most since joining the Pistons in the 2003-04 season. His overall career high is 42. ... Ben Wallace says playing his former team, the Pistons, is old news. "It's been just another game for a long time. All the hoopla is dead now," he said. Wallace did not play in the fourth quarter Thursday and finished with seven rebounds and six points. ... Thomas' 14 rebounds were a career high. ... Chicago's bench outscored the Pistons' reserves 31-13.
[Associated Press; By RICK GANO]
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