Isaiah Stewart explodes against the Bulls, Pistons win despite absences
Jan 7, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) drives to the basket between Detroit Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart (28) and Pistons guard Caris Levert (8) in the third quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
The Detroit Pistons proved their roster depth by dominating the Chicago Bulls (108-93) Wednesday night, despite the absence of several key starters. Cade Cunningham, the team’s star averaging 26.7 points, 9.7 assists and 6.2 rebounds this season, was out due to a wrist contusion, along with Jalen Duren (ankle) and Tobias Harris (hip).
Isaiah Stewart shines in an unusual role
Isaiah Stewart took matters into his own hands, delivering the best offensive performance of his career with 31 points. Usually confined to a defensive role, the Pistons center exceptionally transformed into an offensive leader, physically dominating Nikola Vucevic and illustrating Detroit’s dominance in the paint.
The first half featured a duel between Stewart (17 points) and Ayo Dosunmu (15 points) for the Bulls. The Pistons led most of the time without pulling away, relying on opponent turnovers to maintain their lead (52-50 at halftime).
Chicago came back with better defensive intentions in the third quarter, carried by the awakening of Matas Buzelis and Nikola Vucevic. Three-pointers started falling for the Bulls, while Detroit remained in the wake of Stewart and an excellent Ayo Dosunmu off the bench.
A one-sided fourth quarter
The turning point of the game came in the final twelve minutes. While Chicago still led 77-76 entering the final period, the Pistons rolled with their experimental lineup consisting of Daniss Jenkins, Chaz Lanier, Javonte Green, Ron Holland and Isaiah Stewart.
This rotation forced numerous missed shots from the Bulls while making the difference near the rim. Detroit scored 32 points in that final quarter against only 16 for Chicago, definitively sealing the outcome of the contest.
Daniss Jenkins also shined by dishing out 15 assists off the bench, perfectly compensating for Cade Cunningham’s absence in playmaking. On the other side, the combined 64 points from the Dosunmu-Buzelis-Vucevic trio weren’t enough for the Bulls.
This victory allows the Pistons to string together a fourth win in five games, confirming their excellent start to the season with a 27-9 record that places them atop the Eastern Conference. A remarkable performance for a team that is only two seasons removed from a terrible 14-68 record including a 28-game losing streak, an NBA record.
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