Griffin scores 28, Pistons top Bulls for 5th straight win

DETROIT (AP) — Blake Griffin scored 17 of his 28 points in the third quarter as the Detroit Pistons routed the Chicago Bulls 131-108 Sunday for their fifth straight win.

Detroit has won 12 of 14 to take a half-game lead over Brooklyn for the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. The Pistons and Nets play Monday night in Brooklyn.

Reggie Jackson scored 21 points for Detroit and Andre Drummond added 16 points and 15 rebounds.

The Bulls have lost four of five, including twice to Detroit in three days.

Chicago played without Zach LaVine, who missed the game with a right patellar tendon strain. Wayne Selden led the Bulls with 18 points while Otto Porter Jr. and Lauri Markkanen scored 17 each.

The Pistons hit 10 of 16 first-half 3-pointers (62.5 percent) to take a 61-55 lead. Jackson, who had missed pregame warmups to get treatment on an injured thumb had 13 points in the half, while Porter had 12.

Detroit started the second half with an 11-2 run, including seven points from Griffin, to move the lead to 15 points. Griffin and Drummond combined for 26 points in the third quarter, which the Pistons finished with a 103-80 lead.

TIP-INS

Bulls: The game started at noon in Detroit, but due to the switch to daylight saving time and the Bulls changing time zones, the start was at the equivalent of 10 am for them. The Bulls only dressed 10 players.

Pistons: Langston Galloway has hit 12 straight 3-pointers over three games . Rookie Bruce Brown missed the game with a sprained right ankle and was replaced in the starting lineup by Glenn Robinson III.

UP NEXT

Bulls: Host the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.

Pistons: Play at the Brooklyn Nets on Monday.