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Deng, Bulls look to continue climb vs. first-place Pistons

Mar 29, 2007 - 3:15 PM Detroit (45-25) at Chicago (42-30) 8:00 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) - Luol Deng and the Chicago Bulls continue to climb the Eastern Conference standings. On Thursday, the ascent gets tougher.

Deng and the Bulls start a tough stretch with a game against the first-place Detroit Pistons, who are ravaged by the flu.

Chicago has won eight of its last 11 contests and is 13-5 since the All-Star break, including Monday's 100-89 victory over Portland. Deng scored a career-high 38 points, Kirk Hinrich added 21 and Ben Gordon netted 17.

Chicago has pulled within one game of second-place Cleveland (43-29) and four games of Detroit (45-25) for the top spot in the Central Division and best record in the Eastern Conference. Another win would give the Bulls their third straight postseason berth.

However, the Bulls are beginning a stretch in which three of their next four games are against the Pistons and Cavaliers. Two of those matchups will be at home, where Chicago is a conference-best 27-9.

Detroit also has been hot of late, winning eight of 11. On Monday, Rasheed Wallace's 60-footer at the regulation buzzer forced overtime and led to a 113-109 victory over Denver.

Pistons starters Richard Hamilton and Chris Webber both missed Monday's contest with the flu and are day to day.

The duo has played well against Chicago this season. Hamilton scored 49 points in two games against the Bulls and Webber converted the go-ahead follow shot in Detroit's 95-93 victory February 25.

Chicago won the first meeting this season, 106-89, on January 6.