Griffin, Drummond lead Pistons in comeback over Bulls

[March 09, 2019]  Blake Griffin scored 27 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter, and the visiting Detroit Pistons rallied from a 21-point deficit to down the Chicago Bulls 112-104 on Friday.

Andre Drummond recorded his 11th 20-20 game this season with 20 points and 24 rebounds as the Pistons won for the 11th time in 13 games. Reggie Jackson supplied 21 points, Langston Galloway added 15 and Luke Kennard chipped in 14.

Detroit outscored Chicago 43-24 in the fourth quarter.

Zach LaVine led the Bulls with 24 points, Otto Porter Jr. supplied 23 points and eight assists and Lauri Markkanen added 18 points.

Chicago had three starters in double figures by halftime in racing to a 66-49 halftime lead.

The Pistons led 37-35 on a Thon Maker dunk with 8:43 left in the half. They went scoreless for over four minutes as the Bulls reeled off 18 unanswered points. Porter scored 10 of them and also had an assist.

Porter finished the half with 16 points and six assists. Markkanen had 14 points and LaVine tossed in 12 as the Bulls shot 65.1 percent. Jackson led the Pistons with 15 points. Chicago scored 20 points off 11 Detroit giveaways.

The Pistons chipped away in the third quarter and got as close as nine. Chicago brought an 80-69 advantage into the fourth.

Griffin retreated to the locker room during the third quarter to have a leg injury checked out but returned in the fourth. He hit a 3-pointer seconds later, and a Galloway trey on Detroit's next possession made it a five-point game.

Galloway tied it at 85-all with 8:34 left on a 3-pointer. Kennard knocked down a transition 3-pointer 36 seconds later to give Detroit an 88-86 advantage.

Pistons forward Blake Griffin (23) goes to the basket against the Chicago Bulls during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

A Markkanen layup tied it again, but the Pistons then scored the next 10 points, including six from Drummond.

The Bulls crept within five, but when Griffin converted a three-point play with 1:57 left, Detroit's lead was up to 10.

Chicago couldn't get closer than five again.

The teams will meet again in Detroit on Sunday afternoon.

--Field Level Media

[© 2019 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2019 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.