Griffin scores 28 as Pistons paste Bulls

[March 11, 2019]  Blake Griffin racked up 28 points, six rebounds and five assists and the streaking Detroit Pistons defeated the Chicago Bulls for the second time in three days, winning 131-108 on Sunday.

The host Pistons won their fifth straight and 12th in their last 14 games while completing a sweep of their four-game season series with Chicago. Detroit rallied from a 21-point deficit to win at Chicago's United Center on Friday, 112-104.

The Pistons never trailed by more than five points on Sunday. Reggie Jackson and Langston Galloway had 21 points apiece and Andre Drummond supplied 16 points and 15 rebounds for his 18th double-double. Wayne Ellington chipped in 13 points for the Pistons.

Wayne Selden scored 18 points off the bench to lead the Bulls. Otto Porter Jr. and Lauri Markkanen added 17 points apiece, while Shaquille Harrison tossed in 11.

Both teams were missing starters. Chicago's top scorer, Zach LaVine, was sidelined by a right patellar tendon strain while Detroit rookie Bruce Brown was nursing a right ankle sprain.

The Pistons shot 59 percent in the first half and led 61-55 at halftime. Jackson and Griffin combined for 24 points, while Porter led the Bulls with 12.

The Pistons outscored the Bulls 42-25 in the third to take total control. Griffin scored 17 points and Drummond bulled his way to nine points and seven rebounds.

Detroit opened the second half with an 11-2 outburst to extend its lead to 15. Griffin had seven of those points, including a 3-pointer from the top of the key.

Porter drained a 3-pointer midway through the quarter to cut the Pistons' advantage to eight. Jackson made a corner three with just over four minutes left in the quarter to reestablish a 15-point advantage.

Pistons forward Blake Griffin (23) looses the ball defended by Chicago Bulls forward Lauri Markkanen (24) and guard Shaquille Harrison (3) in the first half at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Griffin converted a three-point play with 2:44 remaining in the third to push the lead to 20 at 95-75.

Galloway made two 3-pointers late in the quarter as the Pistons carried a 103-80 lead into the fourth.

Detroit rested most of its starters throughout the fourth quarter.

--Field Level Media

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