Point guard Cade Cunningham, the Detroit Pistons’ floor leader and top scorer, is averaging 25.5 points per game. While Cunningham commands attention, the Pistons are also pleased with the early contributions from backup guard Dennis Schroder.
Schroder, acquired via trade last week, aims to continue his strong start during Tuesday’s visit to the Chicago Bulls. In his team debut on Sunday, Schroder contributed five points and three assists in 15 minutes, helping Detroit secure a 112-102 victory over the visiting Charlotte Hornets.
Chicago will get a good look at Schroder’s integration into the Pistons’ rotation, as Tuesday’s game marks the first in a back-to-back series between the teams in Chicago before the All-Star break.
Entering the week as the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, Detroit is confident that Schroder can help maintain their playoff pursuit while Jaden Ivey remains out with a broken left fibula.
Schroder’s growth could ultimately expand his role, allowing him to share the floor with Cunningham, who recorded a triple-double of 19 points, 12 assists, and 10 rebounds on Sunday.
The Bulls have a 7-3 record in the past 10 meetings with the Pistons. The teams have split their first two matchups this season, including Detroit’s 127-119 home win on February 2.
Chicago has struggled recently, losing 11 of their last 15 games and falling to a season-worst nine games below .500. Despite this, they enter Tuesday’s game with a 1.5-game lead over Philadelphia for the No. 10 seed and final spot in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament.
Since trading leading scorer Zach LaVine to the Sacramento Kings, the Bulls have posted a 1-2 record. Guard Coby White has emerged as a go-to option, scoring at least 20 points in five consecutive games, including a team-leading 27 points in Saturday’s 132-111 loss to Golden State, which began a three-game homestand.
White connected on 6 of 9 three-point attempts against the Warriors. Coach Billy Donovan praised White’s ability to make “some very deep, tough shots,” which helped the Bulls surge to a 24-point lead in the third quarter. However, Chicago eventually trailed by as many as 25 points down the stretch, with inconsistency being a familiar issue.
Rookie Matas Buzelis was Chicago’s second-leading scorer on Saturday with 16 points, his sixth straight game in double figures.
The Bulls hope renewing their rivalry with the Pistons will spark big man Nikola Vucevic, who has scored no more than 12 points in his past three games, significantly below his season average of 19.3 points. Vucevic has recorded a double-double in five straight games against Detroit, averaging 24.4 points and 11.2 rebounds over that span.
