AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — To Ben Wallace, Joakim Noah always will be the bag-carrying and doughnut-fetching rookie he was when the two were teammates for part of the 2007-08 season.
So after Noah put up a game for the ages Friday night to lead the Bulls to a 108-104 comeback victory over the Pistons, the recently-retired Wallace rose from his baseline seat at the Palace of Auburn Hills and put Noah in a headlock.
"He said I should've had more rebounds and more points," Noah said, smiling. "But he's a hater. That's why I love him. I'm a hater too."
Noah's career-high 30 points, career-high 23 rebounds and six assists were enough to rally the Bulls from 17 points down to their 16th straight victory in this series.
Noah joined Charles Barkley, Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Garnett as the only players in the last 25 seasons to post at least 30 points, 23 rebounds and six assists in a game. It's the first time a Bull reached those levels since Charles Oakley had 35 points, 26 rebounds and seven assists on March 15, 1986.
Noah also became the first Bull to post a 30-point, 20-rebound game since Marcus Fizer did so against the Magic on April 12, 2004.
"It's crazy to have numbers like that," Noah said. "It feels great to play well and win. But we have another one (Saturday), so we just have to move on."
Noah paused and smiled.
"Unfortunately," he said.
The Bulls' defense was unfortunate early as the Pistons shot 54.1 percent in the first half to build a 17-point lead.
"The second quarter was an abomination," coach Tom Thibodeau said.
But the Bulls closed the first half with a 14-2 run to pull within 55-50.
"That was critical," Thibodeau said.
Fittingly, Noah nudged the Bulls ahead for good with an offensive rebound, putback and three-point play to snap an 82-82 tie with 8 minutes, 7 seconds remaining. Noah's offensive rebound and dish to Carlos Boozer, who scored 24 points as all five starters reached double figures, produced a left-handed dunk and seven-point lead with 3:18 left.
"He's playing with that kind of effort every night," Kirk Hinrich said. "He goes to the board every time. It's amazing to watch that intensity."
Noah posted 20 points and 17 rebounds his last game here. He also once had a 21-point, 20-rebound effort during the 2010 playoffs against the Cavaliers.
But this was special.
"He was everywhere," Thibodeau said.
And now the schedule turns. Saturday's Knicks game begins a stretch of eight straight against teams in playoff position entering Friday night. The Knicks lead the Eastern Conference.
"They're flying high," Noah said. "They played very well against Miami the other day. They're going to be rested. They're playing probably the best basketball in the NBA right now. It's on us to come in ready."
You know Noah will be.
kcjohnson@tribune.com
Twitter @kcjhoop
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