Pistons are Bull-ievers after Chicago rout

Scottie Pippen feels like he and his Chicago teammates have Detroit's number.
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Game Flow

CHICAGO -- Scottie Pippen scored 26 points Saturday before sitting out the entire fourth quarter as the Chicago Bulls took a 103-88 victory over the Detroit Pistons.

Scottie Pippen, left, and Grant Hill scramble for the ball.

"Give credit to Chicago," said Pistons coach Doug Collins, who used to coach the Bulls. "There is no question they are the best team in our league. They just thoroughly outplayed us tonight in every facet of the game.

"Except for one point in the second quarter when we caught up, they dominated us. Barring any injury, the Bulls will win their fifth world title."

Michael Jordan added 23 points for the Bulls (59-9), who extended their homecourt winning streak to 26 games.

"We go out there and try to win each and every game," Jordan said. "Even though Doug Collins was my coach and certainly a friend of mine, when I'm on the basketball court, I will try to beat anybody."

Grant Hill had 16 points and Otis Thorpe added 14 for Detroit (48-20), which is just 5-6 in its last 11 games.

"Tonight was a case of catching a team that was maybe a little bit tired," Chicago coach Phil Jackson said. "They played five games this week and I think you could tell their legs were a little bit weary in the second half."

Luc Longley controlled the middle for Chicago, as the 7-foot-2 center finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds against Detroit's undersized pivot men.

"As far as our size, we are able to dominate because they can't find anybody to match up with Luc," Pippen said.

The Bulls broke the game open with a 22-9 run after Hill and Dennis Rodman got into a brief altercation that resulted in three technical fouls.

Chicago was ahead 73-63 when Rodman and Hill became entangled while wrestling for a rebound with 3:01 left in the third quarter. Rodman used his momentum to let Hill slam into the basket support, and Hill jumped to his feet and shoved Rodman in the back.

Both players were hit with technicals, as was Bulls coach Phil Jackson.

"I thought the call on Dennis was not a good one," Jackson said.

Joe Dumars made the free throw on Jackson's technical, but Chicago won the jump ball on the double technical and then got baskets from Pippen and Jordan for a 77-64 lead.

"It was part of the game," Hill said of the run-in with Rodman. "The game is physical. Sometimes you're going to fall to the ground. I'm not one to decide whether it was intentional."

Rodman grabbed 18 rebounds, helping Chicago to a 57-33 edge on the boards. Steve Kerr added 15 points off the bench.

Dumars and Lindsey Hunter each scored 13 points for the Pistons, who shot 38 percent (29 for 76). Detroit was just four for 14 from 3-point range.