Indiana
Bulls get by Pacers after back-and-forth affair
[1/67]Oct 30, 2023; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (8) shoots the ball while Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin (00) defends in the first quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports Acquire Licensing Rights
October 31 – Nikola Vucevic posted a double-double of 24 points and 17 rebounds and Zach LaVine added 23 points as the Chicago Bulls defeated the Indiana Pacers 112-105 on Monday in Indianapolis.
DeMar DeRozan scored 16 of his 20 points in the second half to help the Bulls hand the Pacers their first loss of the young season.
Indiana shot 40.9 percent, including 12-for-46 from 3-point range. The Bulls attempted just 17 treys — making six — while finishing at 46 percent from the floor.
Myles Turner (20 points, 11 rebounds) and Tyrese Haliburton (19 points, 13 assists) had double-doubles for the Pacers. Bennedict Mathurin and Bruce Brown each scored 15 points, while reserve Buddy Hield added 11.
Jevon Carter scored 11 points off the bench for Chicago.
Chicago and Indiana combined for 21 ties and 14 lead changes. The Bulls created separation down the stretch when Vucevic converted a three-point play to give Chicago a 108-102 lead with 1:55 remaining.
LaVine split a pair of free throws with 1:17 left to make it a three-possession game. Moments earlier, the Pacers’ Aaron Nesmith fouled out as he attempted to grab an offensive rebound of Brown’s missed trey.
Indiana entered the fourth quarter with an 83-78 advantage but a slow start from the floor allowed the Bulls to tie the game at 86. Chicago grabbed an 88-86 lead, its first advantage of the second half, on LaVine’s driving layup with 8:35 to play.
Turner (13 points) and Haliburton (11) helped Indiana take a 55-53 lead into halftime, with Haliburton beating the second-quarter buzzer with a layup off a screen. Neither the Bulls nor Pacers led by more than six points before the break and had similar success from the field, with Indiana shooting 46.5 percent compared to 46.2 percent for Chicago.
Vucevic was active in the first half, collecting 10 points and nine rebounds. LaVine also had 10 points for Chicago at intermission.
Indiana, which took three of four games from Chicago last season, saw its winning streak against the Bulls end at three games.
–Field Level Media
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