Chicago Bulls vs. Detroit Pistons - GAME DAY PREVIEW

Can the Bulls nab it back-to-back wins?

© Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bulls (27-30) host the lowly Detroit Pistons (8-49), hoping to snatch a victory before embarking on a brutal nine-game stretch where they’ll face off against teams that are in the upper echelon of the Eastern and Western Conference standings.

Coming off a morale-boosting win

Despite being severely undermanned, the Bulls went to New Orleans and defeated the Pelicans 114-106. Nikola Vucevic, DeMar DeRozan, Ayo Dosunmu, and Coby White had superb games, overhauling a 12-point third-quarter deficit to eke out the morale-boosting victory.

Chicago will need more of the same effort on Tuesday, as they’ll remain without Torrey Craig, whose return from a knee sprain is uncertain. The team already doesn’t have Zach LaVine and Patrick Williams, who are out for the season due to foot surgeries.

After the Detroit game, the Bulls will go through a gauntlet of games against some of the best in the league. This includes matches against Milwaukee, the Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento, Golden State, Indiana, Dallas, Utah, and Cleveland. This stretch of games could very determine if they’ll make it to the Play-in Tournament.

A balanced offensive attack in tonight's W 👏 pic.twitter.com/YLTFLlRXqW

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) February 26, 2024

A pissed-off Detroit squad

The Bulls would do well to be wary of the Pistons on Tuesday. Detroit is coming off a tough 113-111 loss to the New York Knicks in a game marked by a controversial no-call near the end of the game. With the Pistons clinging to a 111-110 lead, Detroit wingman Ausar Thompson picked off a pass by Donte DiVincenzo and was on his way to the other end when DiVincenzo barrelled into him and pried the ball loose.

Jalen Brunson then picked the loose ball up and passed it to Josh Hart, who scored an and-one to give the Knicks the lead and, eventually, the victory.

This no-call is absolutely shocking. Monty Williams has every right to be livid. pic.twitter.com/Obh0ho3TDU

— Cheryl Howe ⚓ (@cherylhowe) February 27, 2024

Afterward, an emotional Monty Williams called the non-call the “absolute worst call of the season.”

“Where’s the New York media now? The absolute worst call of the season… We’ve done it the right way, we’ve called the league, we’ve sent in clips.”

Monty Williams after the Pistons’ 113-111 loss against the Knicks 🗣️

(via @BallySportsDET)pic.twitter.com/VXEe1ATM9H

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 27, 2024

In a pool report after the game, the game’s crew chief, James Williams, admitted a foul should have been called on DiVincenzo on that play.

NBA ref James Williams to pool reporter: "Upon postgame review, we determined that Thompson gets to the ball first, and then was deprived of the opportunity to gain possession of the ball. Therefore, a loose ball foul should have been whistled on New York’s Donte DiVincenzo." pic.twitter.com/kyMHZLyLRD

— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) February 27, 2024

Alex Caruso tries to help the young Bulls' as their roles become more important