National Basketball Association

Pistons' Jackson, Bulls' Rondo have things to prove

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 3:46 p.m. ET

foxsports

Detroit Pistons point guard Reggie Jackson hopes to build off his season debut. His counterpart on Tuesday gets a chance to make amends after yet another disciplinary issue.

Jackson posted 18 points and four assists in 23 minutes after missing the team's first 21 games with left knee tendinitis. That didn't prevent the Pistons from seeing their three-game winning streak snapped, as they were defeated 98-92 by the Orlando Magic in Detroit on Sunday.

Jackson also committed three turnovers, missed a couple of layups and got beaten off the dribble a few times. He'll be in the starting lineup once again when Detroit plays the Chicago Bulls at The Palace of Auburn Hills on Tuesday night. Jackson averaged 23.5 points and 7.5 assists last season against the Bulls as the Pistons won the season series, 3-1.

"It's going to take some time to get acclimated with my teammates again, but (the knee) felt good," Jackson said. "I just wished we came out with a win. I felt like I was behind others in game shape and little aspects like that. I think in defensive coverage and rotations, I was a little rusty, and then just finding guys a little bit quicker. But offensively, I felt pretty good."

Jackson will be matched up against Rajon Rondo, who did not play in the Bulls' 112-110 home loss to Portland on Monday night. Rondo was suspended for one game for conduct detrimental to the team, reportedly for a verbal altercation with assistant coach Jim Boylan.

Rondo, who served his seventh suspension since 2012, apologized for his actions and coach Fred Hoiberg said there are no hard feelings.

"Rajon, as we've all said, has been great," Hoiberg told the Chicago Tribune. "A great teammate. I've enjoyed the relationship that we've developed, and ... it's not going to change moving forward."

Swingman Jimmy Butler said Rondo has been a positive influence since he was signed last offseason.

"These things happen; and, when things happen, you handle it the way you're supposed to handle it," Butler told the Tribune. "I think we all love Rondo. I know I do. He's been a great mentor to me; he's made me a much better basketball player."

Butler, who scored 28 points against the Trail Blazers, averaged 27.5 points against Detroit last season. This is the first of four meetings between the Central Division rivals.

The Bulls (11-9) need to tighten up their defense after a poor performance. They allowed Portland to shoot 48.4 percent, offsetting a 34-point outing by Dwyane Wade.

Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy is concerned about his team's inconsistent defense, which he feels has led to a mediocre start. Detroit is sitting at .500 with an 11-11 record.

"If we're going to be an every-other-night type team that brings a defensive effort every other night, then we are going to be up and down," Van Gundy said. "We can't rely on going out and shooting 50 percent from 3-point range. We shot 37 percent (Sunday). That is certainly good enough. If we can keep doing that, we will be fine. But we didn't bring anything to the table defensively."