Nikola Vucevic scored 28 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, while Matas Buzelis added 21 as the Chicago Bulls held off the Detroit Pistons 115-111 in Wednesday night’s season opener at the United Center.
Chicago built a 23-point lead in the second quarter but saw Detroit rally late, tying the game multiple times in the final three minutes. Josh Giddey had 19 points and 11 assists, keeping the Pistons within striking distance.
Ron Holland II tied the game at 105 with a three-pointer under three minutes left. Vucevic responded with a hook shot, followed by a series of clutch plays from both teams, including alley-oop dunks from Buzelis and a layup from Cade Cunningham.
Cunningham finished with 23 points, and Isaiah Stewart added 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Pistons. Detroit’s late surge fell short as Giddey missed a second free throw with 34 seconds remaining, allowing Chicago to regain control.
Vucevic made a crucial hook with 1:31 remaining, and Giddey’s foul shots sealed the victory after Cunningham was called for a foul trying to contest the ball. The Bulls overcame a tense finish to capture the opener.
Chicago shot 44.8% overall and hit 36.7% from three-point range, while the Pistons managed 44.3% from the field and 29.2% from beyond the arc. Both teams faced absences, with Detroit without Jaden Ivey and the Bulls missing Coby White.
The Bulls will travel to Orlando on Saturday to face the Magic, while the Pistons head to Houston on Friday. Chicago’s late-game execution and contributions from Vucevic and Buzelis highlighted a strong start to the season.
