(Sports Network) - A pair of winless Central Division rivals collide this evening in the Windy City, as the 0-2 Detroit Pistons pay a visit to the Chicago Bulls at the United Center.
The Pistons haven't lost three in a row to start a season since beginning 0-4 back in 1999-00. They lost at New Jersey on Wednesday, then suffered a 105-104 defeat at home to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Thunder star Kevin Durant scored 30 points and his teammate Jeff Green deposited the go-ahead layup with 2.5 seconds to go in the game.
Pistons reserve Ben Gordon countered with 32 points in defeat. Rodney Stuckey scored 24 points and handed out nine assists, while Richard Hamilton collected 14 points for Detroit.
"Good things are going to happen to this team," Detroit head coach John Kuester said. "You've just got to continue to work. I understand that some how, some way, we'll make this work."
Chicago kicked off the new campaign with a loss at Oklahoma City on Wednesday and will begin a three-game homestand tonight versus the Pistons, Blazers and Knicks.
In the 106-95 setback to the Thunder, Derrick Rose led the way with 28 points and Joakim Noah filled the stat sheet with 18 points and 19 boards for the Bulls, who shot better (43%-41%) and grabbed more rebounds (51-44) than the Thunder and still lost.
"I guess it's the beginning of the season, but we have to find our bread and butter," said Rose, who was 12-of-31 from the floor. "I never want to force shots like that ever again. I want to make plays instead of force shots like that. We just lost control of the game in the fourth quarter."
The Bulls were outscored 24-13 in the fourth quarter. Taj Gibson finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds in Chicago head coach Tom Thibodeau's debut. New forward Carlos Boozer is still out with a broken hand sustained in the offseason.
Chicago swept the four-game series with Detroit a season ago and has won seven straight and 12 of the last 14 meetings between the teams. The Pistons are winless in their last eight visits to the United Center.