Bulls enjoy an easy one with 98-87 win over Pistons

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - This was definitely the Bulls' ideal finish to 2009: Pulling away for an easy victory while the opposing crowd booed the other team off the court.

The same scenario has happened to the Bulls a few times this month, but they'll end the year on a three-game winning streak after beating Detroit 98-87 on Thursday afternoon at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Derrick Rose must have already made his resolution to become a consistent 20-point scorer and the Bulls are a better team because of it. He totaled 22 against the Pistons and has averaged 24.3 points in the last six games.

"I'm just trying to do whatever it takes for us to win and that's attacking," he said in the locker room. "If I'm open and they're giving me shots, I'm going to definitely take them."

For the second time in three games, Tyrus Thomas and Joakim Noah showed they could dominate a team with a small front line. Noah grabbed 21 rebounds, to go with 15 points. Thomas went to the foul line 14 times on his way to a 19-point outing.

The Bulls are 3-0 since Thomas returned from a seven-week layoff while recovering from a broken left arm. After the game, he didn't play up the connection.

"I think the team started a little bit better right before I got back, so I wouldn't try to take credit for that," he said. "Just to be out here to help feels good for me, instead of sitting on the sideline watching."

The Bulls (13-17) snapped an eight-game road losing streak, dating back to Sacramento on Nov. 17. The Pistons now have a nine-game losing streak, their longest since the 1993-94 season.

Ex-Bulls guard Ben Gordon scored 21 points and looked like his usual self. Guard Rodney Stuckey led Detroit with 22, but left the game twice in the first half after turning his left ankle. The first instance, which happened with no contact on a fast break, looked horrific.

Two of the Pistons' mainstays, Richard Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince, have appeared in just six games each this season and the rustiness showed. Hamilton hit 2 of 13 shots for 7 points, while Prince made just 5 of 16 attempts for 11 points.

"We're just not making shots," said first-year Pistons coach John Kuester. "I watched the game and said, 'Goodness gracious, you can't get any better looks,' at times."

The Bulls essentially led from start to finish and built a 20-point advantage with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter. The Pistons (11-21) tied the score a couple of times in the second quarter and were within 46-44 early in the third when the Bulls slowly began to pull away.

The biggest problem for the visitors was 24 turnovers. When the Bulls didn't throw wild passes into the seats, they were effective offensively, shooting 47.8 percent from the field and getting to the foul line 35 times, a new season-high. Noah led the way with 8 turnovers Thursday, mostly on careless passes or three-second calls.

"We have young players, a lot of young players and young players make mistakes," coach Vinny Del Negro said. "They get a little overanxious; they get a little quick. As players mature in this league, they get control of their game, understand it a little better."

As a new year begins, the players did a decent job of taking pressure off their coach, whose job security has been questioned during the past few weeks.

"We can't control what's going on upstairs (in the front office)," Noah said. "Right now, we're playing good basketball. It feels good to win three in a row. We're getting in a rhythm. We've got to do this all the time."

<p class="factboxheadblack">Mike McGraw's game tracker

<p class="News">Bulls 98, Pistons 87</p>

<p class="News"><b>Happy New Year:</b> The Bulls finished 2009 on a three-game winning streak by rolling over the slumping Pistons at the Palace. Derrick Rose scored 22 points, Tyrus Thomas added 19, and Joakim Noah grabbed 21 rebounds as the Bulls won on the road for the first time since Nov. 17.</p>

<p class="News"><b>Drop the ball:</b> Turnovers were a big issue Thursday, with the Bulls piling up 24. As has been the case most of the season, the Bulls threw too many careless passes that were either picked off or sailed out of bounds. Noah had a team-high 8 turnovers - 2 more and he would have had a triple-double.</p>

<p class="News"><b>Old acquaintance:</b> On this day, the Bulls didn't miss former teammate Ben Gordon, who scored 21 points for Detroit.</p>

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<li><a href="/story/?id=347932">Gordon gives Pistons boost off bench<span class="date"> [12/31/09]</span></a></li>

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