Detroit @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 10, 2019 ) Chicago 108, Detroit 131

The banged-up Detroit Pistons will try to salvage the finale of a two-game road trip Friday with a visit to the Chicago Bulls. The Pistons have won seven straight over the rival Bulls but could still be without two starters in the form of forward Blake Griffin (hamstring, knee) and guard Reggie Jackson (back).

Griffin, who has yet to play this season, is nearing a return and did travel with the team on its road trip while Jackson remains in Detroit and won't come back until Saturday against Brooklyn at the earliest. Guard Derrick Rose, who is averaging 20.4 points in 25 minutes off the bench, also left Wednesday's 125-113 loss at Toronto with a hamstring issue and he is day-to-day. The Bulls have lost three in a row following a 117-111 setback at Cleveland on Wednesday. They were beaten on the boards by a 47-32 margin and entered Thursday ranked last in the NBA in rebounding differential (-11.4).

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, NBCS Chicago

ABOUT THE PISTONS (2-3): Detroit has allowed at least 117 points in each of its three losses, 110 in one of its two wins and the Raptors shot 59.3 percent in Wednesday's matchup. "Our individual defense was lacking," coach Dwane Casey told reporters. "Whoever was out there, we weren't guarding them." Center Andre Drummond, who led the NBA with 69 double-doubles last season, has burst out of the gate with five in a row after recording 21 points and 22 rebounds versus Toronto.

ABOUT THE BULLS (1-4): Chicago was outscored 37-29 in the fourth quarter at Cleveland two nights after losing the fourth by a 33-18 margin in a seven-point loss to the New York Knicks. "As the game went on, their energy grew and ours didn't," coach Jim Boylen told reporters Wednesday. "They drove it at us and they rebounded us and brought the physicality you need in the fourth quarter. We battled, but we haven't played as well in key moments as I hoped they would." Forward Lauri Markkanen was one of two players with a team-high 16 points in the loss, but he was 4-for-12 from the floor and is shooting 32 percent since opening the season with a 13-for-25 effort at Charlotte.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Pistons SF Sekou Doumbouya has yet to play since suffering a concussion in practice last week, but he has reportedly cleared the protocol and could make his debut soon.

2. Bulls rookie PG Coby White is 8-for-31 from the field over the last three games.

3. Griffin averaged 27 points on 57.4 percent shooting in the four wins over Chicago last season.

PREDICTION: Pistons 107, Bulls 105