[bulls96]

CHICAGO -- Michael Jordan looks to sweep his erstwhile rivals the Detroit Pistons in Detroit.

From the get go, Isiah Thomas was aggressive, but the rest of his teammates struggled. Pippen had a big first quarter, scoring 9 to lead the Bulls to a 25-20 advantageafter one. In the second quarter, the Pistons backcourt Dumars and THomas outplayed Pippen and the Bulls, taking as much as a 3 pt lead in the period. They fought off a late surge from Jordan to keep a 1 pt lead, 48-47 going into halftime.

Isiah led the Pistons with 16 pts in the first half, DUmars had 10. Jordan and Pippen combined for 33.

In the third quarter it was a back and forth affair in the first 6 mins with neither team gaining any true advantage. Jordan suddenly got hot, scoring 6 straight points as the Bulls, fueling a 11-6 run. to take a 5 pt lead. Jordan took an early rest for th the 4th, and Pippen tried to anchor the offense. A late run by Pistons bench had them within 3, 73-70

After a back and fourth between MJ and Isiah, Jordan would break out and score on 2 monstrous dunks, including one that was and and-one, scoring 7 in a 11-2 run that woudl totally swing the momentum towards the Bulls. THey would lead by as much as 11. Isiah would try to fight back, scoring 15 in the period but it was a bit too late, as the rest of the Pistons got drowned in the Bulls momentum. Bulls would win this convincingly, 100-91 and complete the First Round sweep of the Detroit Pistons.

Isiah Thomas put up a fight. He finished with 31 pts. Dumars added 16. 4 Pistons were in double figures. Rodman had 6 pts 15 rebs.

Jordan finished with 38 pts 4 rebs 9 assts 2 stls. Pippen added 27. Horace Grant had 6 pts 14 rebs.