by Raegan Walsh
The Indiana Pacers will look to earn their first set of consecutive wins since early December as they take on the Chicago Bulls at the United Center Thursday night.
Indiana enters the matchup after defeating the Rockets in Houston in a 123-117 nail-biter on Tuesday in the first game of their two-game road trip.
After 13 lead changes in three quarters, Indiana had an 11-point lead at the top of the final frame. However, two scoring runs helped Houston eliminate their deficit and allowed them to take a two-point lead with 1:50 remaining on the clock. Though Indiana only made four buckets during the Houston comeback stint, the Pacers ended up securing a six-point win with a go-ahead 3-pointer from Tyrese Haliburton, a completed jumper from Andrew Nembhard, and a made free throw from Myles Turner while holding the Rockets scoreless in the final 1:50 of play.
Tyrese Haliburton led the way with his 21st double-double of the season as he notched 33 points on 13-of-21 shooting, including seven 3-pointers, and 10 assists. The All-Star guard Haliburton is leading the team with 24.8 points per contest and a league-leading 12.1 assists per game.
Eight of the nine players who earned playing time scored in double figures as the best offense in the league shot 52.4 percent (43-of-82) from the field.
Indiana is averaging a league-high 126.3 points per contest but is also giving up 125.5 points per game to its opponents.
The Blue and Gold earned a win on Tuesday with a starting lineup that looked much different than what Indiana fans had been used to seeing previously. With only two wins in their most recent eight games, it seemed as if it was time for a change in the rotation as Aaron Nesmith, Jalen Smith, and Andrew Nembhard each earned spots in the starting lineup in place of Obi Toppin, Buddy Hield, and Bruce Brown. Brown did not play against Orlando on Saturday or in Houston due to injury.
Smith contributed 12 points, a team-high eight rebounds and two blocks. Nembhard added 11 points and six assists, while Nesmith pitched in 10 points and five rebounds.
The injury riddled Bulls also earned a win on Tuesday as they defeated the Atlanta Hawks, 118-113. The nine players who took to the floor were led by the 20-point outings of DeMar DeRozan and Andre Drummond, as Drummond earned his first start of the season.
The veteran All-Star guard DeRozan is averaging a team-best 22.4 points and 5.5 assists per game. Starting guard Cody White is contributing 17.6 points per contest on average and added 19 points in Tuesday’s win for the Bulls.
The Bulls will be without their second-best leading scorer, Zach LaVine, and potentially without starting center Nikola Vucevic, who together total an average of 37.7 points per game.
Chicago currently ranks second in turnovers, averaging only 12.0 turnovers per game in comparison to Indiana’s 13.6 turnovers per contest. The Bulls also average a league eighth-best 11.6 offensive rebounds per game.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G – Tyrese Haliburton, G – Andrew Nembhard, F – Aaron Nesmith, F – Jalen Smith, C – Myles Turner
Bulls: G – Coby White, G – Alex Caruso, F – DeMar DeRozan, F – Patrick Williams, C – Andre Drummond
Injury Report
Pacers: Bruce Brown – questionable (right knee bone bruise)
Bulls: Nikola Vucevic – questionable (left adductor contusion), Lonzo Ball – out (left knee surgery), Onuralp Bitim – out (nasal fracture), Torrey Craig – out (right plantar fascia sprain), Henri Drell – out (right thumb sprain), Zach LaVine – out (right foot inflammation)
Last Meeting
Oct. 30, 2023: The Indiana Pacers earned their first loss of the 2023-24 season after falling to the Chicago Bulls, 112-105, in their third game of the year.
Though leading, 83-78, to open the fourth quarter, the Bulls outscored Indiana, 34-22, in the final frame to secure their win. Bruce Brown tied the game with a layup at the 4:05 minute mark, but a bucket from DeMar DeRozan 19 seconds later put Chicago ahead to ensure they would not trail again for the reminder of the game. Indiana shot just 6-of-26 from the field in the fourth quarter.
Myles Turner led the Pacers with his second double-double of the season of 20 points and 11 rebounds. All-Star Tyrese Haliburton contributed his third straight double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Brown and Bennedict Mathurin added 15 points apiece.
Despite the impressive Indiana performances, Nikola Vucevic’s 24 points, Zach LaVine’s 23 points, and DeRozan’s 20 points helped the Bulls sail ahead to a victory.
Noteworthy
- After falling to the Bulls in the first matchup between the two teams in the 2022-23 regular season, 124-109, Indiana won the next three games to win the season series, 3-1.
- Indiana guard Bennedict Mathurin and Bulls forward Dalen Terry played together at Arizona for two seasons (2020-22).
- Chicago forward Terry Taylor played two seasons with the Pacers from 2021 to 2023.
Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings)
TV: Bally Sports Indiana – Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan – Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (studio host)
Tickets
The Pacers return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to host Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks on Saturday, Dec. 30 at 7:00 PM ET.
Originally posted on pacers.com