The Bulls are taking on the Pistons for the third time this season, looking to go up 2-1 in the regular season series.
Wednesday night's Chicago Bulls-Detroit Pistons matchup will be a contest between two very banged up squads that are in very different places in the Eastern Conference hierarchy. The Bulls are currently the 9-seed in the East--a familiar spot for the franchise--and the Pistons sit atop the Eastern Conference with an impressive 27-9 record. The Bulls are coming off a 115-101 loss to the Boston Celtics.
Detroit's 75% win percentage is built off of a good offense, and an amazing defense. Per Cleaning The Glass (paid subscription site), the Pistons are holding opponents to 110.2 points per 100 possessions, a mark that trails only the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder (at a ridiculous 105.6 Defensive Rating).
The Bulls preached "physicality" as a key for their team all offseason, and being in the same division as the Pistons certainly will give you exposure to what real NBA physicality feels like. The Pistons bully teams in the paint, and are second in the league in offensive rebound rate as a result. Even with their starting center in Jalen Duren out, players like Isaiah Stewart (9 rebounds in Detroit's recent win over the New York Knicks) and Paul Reed have picked up the slack.
In the last Bulls-Pistons matchup, the Pistons picked up a 124-113 win in Detroit. The Bulls were thwarted by an unlikely 28-point, 13-rebound double-double from Reed, who made 11-13 FGAs and pulled down 6 offensive rebounds. In that game Jalen Smith played 14 minutes, but tonight the Bulls will be without the services of Smith, and Zach Collins is still out.
That means the Bulls will need a total team effort--especially from the likes of Nikola Vucevic, Matas Buzelis, and Patrick Williams--to keep the Pistons from dominating the shorthanded Bulls on the glass. If the Pistons are without star player Cade Cunningham (26.7 PPG, 9.7 APG, 6.2 RPG this season), things will be easier for Chicago but not by much, as he didn't play in the last matchup and Detroit seems to be committed to their playstyle regardless of who suits up.
How to Watch
Chicago Bulls (17-19) @ Detroit Pistons (27-9)
Location: Little Caesars Arena | Detroit, Michigan
Tipoff: Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. CT
TV: Chicago Sports Network | Announcers: Adam Amin, Stacey King
Radio: WSCR AM 670 | Announcers: Chuck Swirsky, Bill Wennington
Bulls Spanish Radio: WRTO 1200 AM | Announcers: Miguel Esparza, Elio Benitez
Line: Bulls +9.5 (-112)
Over/Under: 228.5 (-110)
Odds via DraftKings
Injury Report
Chicago Bulls:
- Zach Collins: Out (Sprained Right Big Toe)
- Noa Essengue: Out (Left Shoulder Surgery)
- Josh Giddey: Out (Left Hamstring Strain)
- Jalen Smith: Out (Concussion)
- Coby White: Out (injury management)
Detroit Pistons:
- Bobi Klintman: Out (Left adductor strain)
- Cade Cunningham: Questionable (wrist)
- Duncan Robinson: Probable (calf)
- Caris LeVert: Probable (Left knee tendinopathy)
- Wendell Moore Jr.: Out (G League assignment)
- Isaac Jones: Out (G League assignment)
- Jalen Duren: Out (Ankle)
- Tobias Harris: Out (Hip)
Last Game Starters
Chicago Bulls @ Boston Celtics (Jan. 5)
- G Tre Jones
- G Kevin Huerter
- F Isaac Okoro
- F Matas Buzelis
- C Nikola Vucevic
Detroit Pistons vs. New York Knicks (Jan. 5)
- G Cade Cunningham
- G Ausar Thompson
- F Duncan Robinson
- F Paul Reed
- F lsaiah Stewart