Following a contentious defeat against the New York Knicks, the Detroit Pistons are set to confront the Chicago Bulls in their third encounter of the season at the United Centre on Tuesday. Chicago previously triumphed in their latest clash on Nov. 12, securing a 119-102 victory. Despite Kevin Knox II’s commendable 18-point contribution for Detroit, it proved insufficient to counter Chicago’s DeMar DeRozan, who amassed 29 points.
In preparation for Tuesday’s game, the Pistons will be missing rookie guard Marcus Sasser, a pivotal asset in their second unit renowned for his adept three-point shooting. The franchise disclosed that he is sidelined due to a right knee contusion sustained during a loss to the Indiana Pacers last Thursday, with his condition set to be reassessed in a week’s time.
Conversely, Detroit anticipates the return of Isaiah Stewart, a prominent figure absent from the team’s rotation for the past 11 games. Initially sidelined for eight games due to an ankle sprain, Stewart was poised to make a comeback against the Pacers. However, the NBA levied a three-game suspension against him for his involvement in a Feb. 14 altercation at the Footprint Center with Phoenix Suns player Drew Eubanks.
With a record of 2-8 in their last 10 games, the Pistons are grappling with the aftermath of a narrow 113-111 loss against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. The game witnessed rookie Ausar Thompson being tripped in the legs by Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo, resulting in a turnover that facilitated Josh Hart’s decisive basket, clinching victory for New York. Pistons coach Monty Williams expressed vehement discontent with NBA officials for their failure to acknowledge the incident during the game, labeling it as an abomination. Failure to secure victory against the Bulls would mark Detroit’s 50th loss of the season.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls exhibited a formidable performance in their recent 114-106 triumph over the New Orleans Pelicans, with three starters notching 20+ points. DeRozan led the charge with 24 points, followed by Nikola Vucevic with 22 and Ayo Dosunmu with 21. The upcoming game against Detroit is deemed crucial for Chicago as they endeavor to close the gap on the Orlando Magic, currently occupying the No. 8 seed.
The NBA matchup between the Detroit Pistons (8-49) and the Chicago Bulls (27-30) is scheduled for Tuesday, February 27, at 7:30 p.m. ET, to be held at the United Centre. Fans can catch the action on Bally Sports Detroit or stream it via platforms such as FuboTV or DirecTV Stream. Additionally, NBA enthusiasts can stay updated on standings and results through NBA.com, while accessing Pistons merchandise and tickets through various retailers like Fanatics, Nike, StubHub, and Seat Geek.
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