SCOUTING REPORT: Chicago is one of the East’s hottest teams, having won four in a row (tied for the longest streak in the conference with regular-season East champ Cleveland) and eight of their last 10 games. The Bulls rallied with a 35-point fourth quarter to upend the Bobcats Saturday, 113-106, behind 39 points from Ben Gordon. The Bulls leading scorer has averaged 22.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists in his last five games. Gordon has averaged three triples per game as well, which the Pistons will need to address after allowing at least nine 3-pointers by opponents in their last three outings.

At point guard 2008 No. 1 pick Derrick Rose is almost assured Rookie of the Year honors for piloting Chicago back to the postseason; he missed the last game against the Pistons March 24 but had 22 points, seven assists, two steals and just one turnover Saturday. Rose has had fewer than four turnovers in eight of his last 10 games. The Bulls have averaged the sixth-fewest turnovers (11.9) in the league during that stretch, nearly three fewer than their season average (14.7).

News that 6-foot-9 forward Luol Deng, who hadn’t played since Feb. 28, is finished for the year has not been a crushing blow thanks to the timely addition of 6-foot-6 guard/forward John Salmons at the trade deadline. Salmons, Chicago’s second-leading scorer behind Gordon, averaged 21.3 in March (50.0 FG%, 43.5 3FG%) but has seen his numbers dip in April (17.3, 40.3 FG%, 34.5 3FG%).

Veteran center Brad Miller, also acquired from the Kings in the Salmons deal, is backing up Joakim Noah despite playing three more minutes per game. The arrangement has worked out for Noah, whose production since February (8.6 points, 9.2 rebounds) is a clear improvement over his first half of the season (5.1 points, 6.3 rebounds). Miller is averaging 11.8 points and 7.5 rebounds since joining the Bulls.

PLAYOFF PERSPECTIVE: Simply put, a win Monday would give the Pistons a leg up on Bulls, whether they’re settling matters for the sixth or seventh seed, provided each team takes care of business in its regular-season finale. A Pistons victory sets up an interesting rundown through the playoff tiebreakers. First, it ties them at 40-41 overall, and win at The Palace would also knot the season series at 2-2, with the home team winning each time. That takes you to the No. 3 tiebreaker – higher winning percentage within the division – but a Pistons victory would give them identical 8-8 records in the Central. The fourth tiebreaker is higher winning percentage in conference games, and that would go to the Pistons, who currently have 26 wins in the East to Chicago’s 23. Keep in mind the sliding Sixers, whose ongoing five-game skid has dropped them to 40-40, could muddle up the mix as well.

Probable Starters

Prince McDyess Wallace Hamilton Stuckey Forward Forward Center Guard Guard Salmons Thomas Noah Gordon Rose