CHICAGO — The Pistons-Bulls rematch had a good start, but a much worse ending than the season opener.
After they played the Bulls close down to the final minute on Wednesday in a six-point loss, the Pistons’ shooting went cold in the second and third quarters, and the Bulls looked dominant in a 97-82 victory on Saturday night at United Center.
Saddiq Bey had 20 points and a career-high 16 rebounds, Kelly Olynyk 10 points and five rebounds and Jerami Grant nine points and five rebounds for the Pistons (0-2), who next face the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday.
The Pistons trailed by as many as 31 early in the third quarter, but mounted a 17-0 run to trim the lead to 14 with 5:35 remaining. Trey Lyles (12 points and five rebounds) had three 3-pointers during the spurt and Bey added a three-point play to make it 89-75.
Patrick Williams ended the run with a jumper, and the Pistons got a free throw and a put-back from rookie Luka Garza — his first NBA basket — to get within 13. Zach LaVine (14 points, five assists and five rebounds) answered with a fadeaway jumper that extended the lead.
Turnovers have been a familiar bugaboo for the Pistons, and they were a hindrance again, with their 23 miscues leading to 24 Bulls points, including 14 for 13 points in the first half.
The Pistons shot just 5 of 28 (18%) on 3-pointers, which has been another issue in the first two games. The Bulls (3-0) sizzled from beyond the arc, hitting 42% (11 of 26).
DeMar DeRozan had the hot hand, with 21 points, six rebounds and six assists, and Nikola Vucevic added 15 points and 19 rebounds.
