The Chicago Bulls hit rock bottom Tuesday night at Little Caesars Arena, managing just 95 points in an ugly 108-95 loss to Detroit that extended their losing streak to four games and raised serious questions about this team’s direction.
DeMar DeRozan’s 22 points on 9-of-18 shooting weren’t nearly enough to mask an offense that looked lost for long stretches. The Bulls shot a miserable 41.3% from the field, coughed up 16 turnovers, and got thoroughly outplayed by a Pistons squad that entered the night with just eight wins.
The defeat drops Chicago to 15-21 and leaves them clinging to 10th place in the East — a precarious position that’s looking more fragile by the game.
Cunningham Carves Up Listless Defense
Cade Cunningham put on a clinic, dropping 24 points and eight assists while repeatedly finding wide-open teammates as Chicago’s defense crumbled in transition. The second-year guard hit timely shots and made the extra pass that this Bulls team seems incapable of making consistently.
Detroit shot 52.4% from the field and dominated the paint 58-42, exposing just how soft this Bulls defense has become. Nikola Vucevic managed a pathetic eight points on 3-of-10 shooting — the kind of no-show performance that’s becoming his calling card.
“We’re not moving the ball like we need to,” coach Billy Donovan said afterward, his frustration barely concealed. “When you have 16 turnovers and only 19 assists, you’re making it too easy for the other team.”
The game turned ugly in the third quarter. Detroit ripped off a 15-4 run that turned a competitive 62-58 game into a 77-62 laugher. Cunningham scored eight during that stretch — including two threes — while the Bulls went scoreless for nearly four excruciating minutes.
LaVine’s Return Falls Flat
Zach LaVine returned from a two-game absence with right foot soreness, but his rust showed immediately. The two-time All-Star managed just 16 points on 6-of-15 shooting in 28 minutes, looking tentative and out of sync alongside DeRozan.
Together, the backcourt duo turned the ball over seven times — the kind of careless play that’s defined this season.
“I felt okay physically, but we just couldn’t get anything going offensively,” LaVine admitted. “Credit to Detroit — they made it tough on us all night.”
That Detroit made it tough says everything about where these Bulls are mentally. This is a team that’s won eight games all season, yet they controlled the tempo from the opening tip.
Bench Provides Only Silver Lining
Coby White was the lone bright spot, scoring 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting to lead a bench unit that actually outscored Detroit’s reserves 32-28. White attacked the rim with purpose and knocked down open looks — a stark contrast to the tentative approach of the starters.
The starting five was a disaster. Vucevic, Patrick Williams, and Alex Caruso combined for a putrid 20 points on 8-of-22 shooting. Williams was particularly invisible, managing four points in 32 minutes while providing zero of the secondary scoring this roster desperately lacks.
Meanwhile, Detroit got contributions from everyone. Isaiah Stewart posted 15 points and 10 boards, while Jalen Duren dominated inside with 12 points and 11 rebounds. The Pistons improved to 8-28 but looked like the hungrier team throughout.
Playoff Dreams Turning to Dust
At 15-21, Chicago sits just 1.5 games ahead of Detroit for the final play-in spot. More alarming: they trail sixth-seeded Orlando by 5.5 games with 46 contests remaining.
The math is getting ugly fast. The Bulls have dropped 12 of 16 games, completely squandering whatever momentum they built during their surprising 5-14 start. This is starting to look like the same old Bulls — talented enough to tease you, not good enough to deliver.
“We’ve got to find a way to be more consistent,” DeRozan said, though his words rang hollow after another no-show performance. “We can’t have these stretches where we just go cold for five, six possessions in a row. That’s what’s killing us right now.”
What’s killing them is a lack of identity, questionable coaching decisions, and a roster construction that makes no sense in 2024. Thursday’s home date with Philadelphia (15-20) represents another must-win — though at this point, every game feels that way.
