Webber’s tip-in at buzzer lifts Pistons over Bulls

Webber, who finished with 21 points and nine rebounds, got a hold of the ball and scored the deciding basket after Chauncey Billups put up a jumper. With one last chance for the win, Ben Gordon missed a three-pointer from the left wing to end the game.

Billups ended with 15 points and dished out nine assists, while Tayshaun Prince added 14 points and grabbed nine boards for the Pistons, who have won four in a row.

The game marked the return of former Piston Ben Wallace to Detroit. Wallace, who spent the last six seasons in Detroit before joining Chicago this past offseason, helped the Pistons win the NBA title in 2004. The four-time Defensive Player of the Year, who was booed each time he touched the ball, finished with six points and eight rebounds.

Gordon netted 21 points and P.J. Brown had 19 points with 12 boards for the Bulls, who had a three-game winning streak halted. Luol Deng scored 18 points and grabbed eight boards, while Chris Duhon donated 12 points in defeat.

Deng’s tip-in put Chicago on top 27-25 after one quarter of play. Midway through the second, Detroit went on a 9-2 spurt, highlighted by five points from Billups to go up by four with 4:20 left.

The Bulls, though, responded with a 13-1 burst, capped by Duhon’s running jumper and led 53-45 at halftime.

Chicago continued to sizzle in the third, scoring 10 of the first 12 points in the frame for a 16-point advantage. Then, trailing by 14, the Pistons ripped off 12 straight points to close within two, 69-67 with 1:27 remaining.

A see-saw battle ensued in the fourth quarter until Webber broke an 83-83 contest with a hook shot with 5:24 to play. Prince’s hook shot then gave the Pistons a seven-point edge with just under two minutes left.

However, the Bulls came right back and tied it at 93 on seven consecutive points by Gordon.

Game Notes

Chicago’s Kirk Hinrich had six points and eight assists...Detroit shot 38 percent from the floor...The Bulls finished 48 percent shooting...The Pistons have won seven of nine and 16 of the last 19 in the series.