CHICAGO — As the NBA’s regular season draws to a close Isaiah Oliver Youth Jersey , both the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons approach their final game looking ahead to what’s ahead. And in both cases, a fair amount of uncertainty exists.

The Bulls head into Wednesday’s season finale against the Pistons having lost 10 of their past 13 games — including three straight — hoping to still have a shot at a prime lottery slot in this summer’s draft.

Detroit, meanwhile, faces another year without a playoff berth, which has left the future of coach Stan Van Gundy in question.

Still, with one seemingly meaningless game remaining, both the Bulls and Pistons — regardless of the difficulties they have faced this season — won’t concede anything.

Chicago (27-54) enters Wednesday’s game with the league’s seventh-worst record. The Bulls dropped a 114-105 decision to the Brooklyn Nets on Monday and finished the loss off with a collection of young talent that remains in the evaluation phase as Chicago continues to rebuild around the core of rookie Lauri Markkanen and guards Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine.

Still, despite this year’s struggles, coach Fred Hoiberg is quick to point out that he appreciates the effort he continues to get from his team despite the fact by now the Bulls are merely aiming to improve their draft position the best they can.

“I thought we really went out and competed at a high level Authentic Brian Urlacher Jersey ,” Hoiberg told reporters after Monday’s loss, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. “I thought we had great effort for 48 minutes.

“We’re obviously putting a lot of guys in a lot of different positions that they have not been in during the course of the year, but I thought each and every guy that stepped on the floor competed at a high level. That’s what it’s all about right now.”

The Pistons are coming off a 108-98 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Monday when Detroit (38-43) relinquished an early 17-point loss. The Pistons played without starters Blake Griffin (right ankle bruise), Reggie Bullock (sore left knee) and Andre Drummond (sore Achilles tendon) and are likely to again be short-handed Wednesday against the Bulls.

The changes that could be coming after a disappointing season could be arriving sooner rather than later.

Pistons owner Tom Gores told reporters Monday that he will meet with Van Gundy next week to discuss what needs to change following a campaign in which the Pistons failed to make the playoffs for the third time in the past four years.

Van Gundy has one year remaining on his five-year, $35 million deal.

“I’m just not sure what they are and he’s been working the whole season so I need to hear from Stan,” Gores told reporters, according to the Detroit Free Press. “I can tell you he’s an extremely dedicated man so I think he’s been good for our franchise.”

Still, Van Gundy understands the reality of the situation and knows that the Pistons only winning 38 games after winning 14 of their first 16 games won’t go unnoticed when it comes to the decision Gores has to make.

“It’s fine, I have no problem Jessie Bates III Jersey ,” Van Gundy told reporters before Monday’s game, according to the Free Press. “Our record is what it is you’ve got to accept that and the judgment that goes with that.”

“I have great confidence the team will be good, but you still got to own the 38 wins right now. You can’t run from that.”

The Arizona Diamondbacks didn’t waste any time breaking this game open.

Ketel Marte and Alex Avila each hit two-run homers and the Diamondbacks scored eight runs in the first three innings to power their way to a 9-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday night.

”We just did a good job of being aggressive in the zone,” Arizona center fielder Jon Jay said. ”You saw guys put some good barrels on balls and we were ready to hit right from the start.”

Marte’s blast capped a three-run first, while Avila’s shot in the third extended the NL West-leading Diamondbacks’ advantage to 8-0.

Jay doubled in each of the first two innings, the second of which drove in two runs. The center fielder is hitting .340 in 13 games since being acquired June 6 from Kansas City in a trade.

”I feel very fortunate to have been traded here,” Jay said. ”It’s a great group of guys who know how to go about their business. You can see why this team is successful.”

Staked to the early cushion, Zack Godley (8-5) won his third straight start. He gave up three runs – two earned – and four hits in six innings with five strikeouts and three walks.

”A lot of times it’s hard to pitch in games like this because you can lose your concentration with the big lead, but he kept making pitches Dallas Goedert Eagles Jersey ,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said.

Godley, though, said he didn’t feel any pressure in trying to hold the eight-run advantage.

”Heck, I’ll take eight runs in the first three innings every time,” he said with a smile.

Avila finished with three RBIs as he also doubled home a run in the ninth. The veteran catcher entered the game hitting .109.

Chad Kuhl (5-5) lasted just two-plus innings and was lifted following Avila’s homer. Kuhl was tagged for eight runs and eight hits after allowing three earned runs or less in seven of his previous eight starts.

”I don’t think balls were coming out (of his hand) as they have for whatever that reason may be,” Kuhl said. ”I just felt like tonight was a little bit different. They hammered balls over the plate. You just try your best to move on from this one.”

Kuhl was supposed to pitch Wednesday night against Milwaukee but the game was rained out after a delay of slightly more than two hours. Lovullo thought that might have worked in the Diamondbacks’ favor.

”He had to reverse his game plan,” Lovullo said. ”He thought he was starting against the Brewers and then he had less than a day to prepare for us. That’s difficult.”

Pittsburgh rookie Austin Meadows had three hits.

Daniel Descalso’s sacrifice fly brought home the game’s first run before Marte followed with his sixth home run into the right-field stands. Paul Goldschmidt singled in Jay in the second to make it 6-0.

Francisco Cervelli hit an RBI single in the fourth inning for the Pirates. Starling Marte doubled in a run and scored on Colin Moran’s sacrifice fly in the sixth.

The Diamondbacks have scored 35 runs in going 3-1 against Pittsburgh this season.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Diamondbacks: RHP Shelby Miller (Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery) rejoined the team following four minor league rehab starts and is scheduled to be activated from the disabled list Monday to pitch at Miami. Miller was injured April 22, 2017, while facing the Los Angeles Dodgers. He will take the rotation spot of RHP Matt Koch Cheap Derwin James Jersey , who was optioned to Triple-A Reno, while RHP Jake Barrett was recalled from the Aces to provide extra bullpen help and got the final out.

Pirates: RHP AJ Schugel (right shoulder discomfort) has started playing catch on flat ground at the team’s spring training facility in Bradenton, Florida. The reliever has been on the DL all season.

TIME TO MAKE UP

Wednesday’s rainout will be made up July 14 when the Pirates and Brewers play a traditional doubleheader starting at 12:35 p.m. ET.

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks: LHP Patrick Corbin (6-5, 3.48 ERA) is 1-2 with a 5.90 ERA in five career starts against the Pirates.

Pirates: RHP Ivan Nova (4-5, 4.42) has won both starts with a 1.54 ERA since being activated from the DL on June 10. He missed two weeks with a sprained right ring finger.

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