Chicago Bulls

Stewart, short-handed Pistons hand Bulls their third straight defeat

Posted January 07, 2026 8:33 pm

By DAVE HOGG

Detroit Pistons guard Ausar Thompson, left, shoots against Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun) (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

DETROIT — Isaiah Stewart scored a career-high 31 points to help the short-handed Detroit Pistons beat the Bulls 108-93 on Wednesday night.

Detroit won for the fourth time in five games despite playing without All-Star Cade Cunningham (wrist) and fellow starters Tobias Harris (hip) and Jalen Duren (ankle).

Stewart, who had his previous best of 26 points against Memphis on Nov. 3, scored 11 points in the first quarter. Two-way player Daniss Jenkins added six rebounds and a career-high 15 assists.

Ayo Dosunmu had 24 points for Chicago, which has lost three straight. Nikola Vucevic added 20 points and 16 rebounds, and Matas Buzelis also had 20 points.

Chicago led 77-76 at the end of the third quarter, but Detroit scored the first seven points of the fourth to go up 83-77.

The Bulls were unable to get anything going offensively in the fourth quarter. They missed 12 of their first 16 shots, including eight of 10 3-pointers, and turned the ball over three times.

That, and a 14-4 edge on points in the paint, allowed Detroit to build a 101-87 lead with two minutes to play.

Up next

Bulls: Host Miami on Thursday night.

Pistons: Host the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night.

Detroit Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart, left, shoots against Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun) (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Detroit Pistons forward Paul Reed, left, shoots against Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun) (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan reacts during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun) (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Detroit Pistons guard Marcus Sasser, center, drives against Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis, left, and center Lachlan Olbrich during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun) (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)