About the Chicago Bulls vs. Detroit Pistons Rivalry

By Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief Updated: 25 December 2023

Blake Roberts Founder & Editor in Chief

Blake Roberts is the founder of Betting.US and is currently heading the creative team as Editor in Chief. Born and raised in Morgantown, West Virginia, Blake is a great sports fan, with football and basketball being his favorite. He’s our trusted voice for all betting-related matters.

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Chicago Bulls vs Detroit Pistons

• History & Previous Meetings
• Chicago Bulls’ Memorable Moments
• Chicago Bulls’ Recent Form and Season
• Detroit Pistons’ Memorable Moments
• Detroit Pistons’ Recent Form and Season

The Chicago Bulls vs Detroit Pistons rivalry remains legendary in the annals of NBA history. The legendary franchises first faced off in 1966, but their rivalry became more intense in the 1980s when Michael Jordan evolved into one of the league’s best players, and the Pistons became a playoff contender.

Their close geographical reasons are also one of the reasons for their fierce rivalry. A 280-mile stretch of road separates the two largest metropolitan areas in the Midwest.

The rivalry marked the two franchises’ contrasting playing styles, physicality, and deep-seated animosity. Intense action, altercations, and hard fouls characterized the Bulls and Pistons match-ups. They faced off multiple times in the playoff series in the 1980s, including their match-ups in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Pistons were known as the “Bad Boys” due to their physical style of play, while the Bulls were called the “Jordanires” due to Michael Jordan’s scoring prowess. Their rivalry led to intense match-ups in the playoffs, including the Eastern Conference Finals from 1989 to 1991, when the franchise was at the peak of its dominance.

History & Previous Meetings

The Bulls and Pistons have faced off 312 times in their rich history. Their rivalry has remained neck-and-neck. But the Bulls have held a slender 160-152 upper hand over the Detroit Pistons. That has turned them into a popular team at all NBA betting websites.

Their first meeting in October 1966 saw the Pistons clinch a 129-116 victory to start a new rivalry. The franchises met thrice in the Eastern Conference Finals between 1989 and 1991. Pistons won the 1989 and 1999 Conference Finals, while the Bulls triumphed in 1991.

Chicago Bulls’ Memorable Moments

The Chicago Bulls have won five NBA Championships (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997 and 1998) and six Conference Finals (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998).

One of the most iconic games featuring Jordan saw him dropping 59 points on their home floor against the Pistons on an Easter Sunday in 1988. Chicago Bulls’ Jordan was unstoppable as he collected six assists, two blocks, two steals, and four rebounds to clinch a 112-110 victory against the Pistons. This match was pivotal in giving birth to the Pistons’ ultra-specific rules targeting Jordan, called the ‘’Jordan Rules’’.

Their era truly began in 1991 when they defeated the Pistons in a four-game sweep of the Eastern Conference Finals to end their almost decade-long rivalry. The finals also marked an end to the Pistons’ dominance, and they were heavily criticized for walking off the court without shaking hands with the Bulls.

Chicago Bulls’ Recent Form and Season

The Chicago Bulls underachieved in the 2022-23 season, registering six wins less than their previous season, to finish at 40-42. The absence of Lozano Ball throughout the season was a major blow for the club as they failed to exit the play-in tournament and advance to the playoffs.

As a result, the Chicago Bulls finished 10th in the Conference and third in the Central Division. The silver lining in the Bulls’ season was DeMar DeRozan, repeating as an all-star to get in the running for the Clutch Player of the Year award, while Coby White was the most-improved player for the franchise across all facets. Fans at Illinois online sportsbooks remain hopeful for the next season.

Detroit Pistons’ Memorable Moments

The Detroit Pistons have won the NBA Championship thrice (1989, 1990, 2004) and the Eastern Conference Finals six times (1988, 1989, 1990, 2004, 2005).

In a game held in 1988, the Pistons displayed their ‘’Jordan Rules’’ strategy to limit Jordan to 16 points and clinch an 88-87 victory.

The Detroit Pistons also forced the “Jordan Rules” strategy in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Once again, it limited Jordan’s scoring as their team rivalry intensified. The Pistons were able to win the game 101-97.

Game 7 of the 1989 Eastern Conference Finals was one of the most physical contests in NBA history, which the Pistons won 83-81 to advance to the NBA Finals.

Detroit Pistons’ Recent Form and Season

Detroit Pistons was one of the youngest sides in the 2022-23 season, with their core players averaging 23. The franchise won only 17 games in the Eastern Conference and missed the playoffs for a fourth season straight. The Pistons set the worst overall record in NBA history at 17-65 and the second-worst in franchise history. Their poor run also recorded their first 60-loss season since 1933-34. It was their final season under head coach Dwane Casey.

The franchise is committed to the development of young players. The young point guard Jaden Ivey made a strong rookie start to the season, posting 16.3 points and 5.2 assists across the season. He earned a spot in the NBA All-Rookie Second Team along with Jalen Duren.