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DeMar DeRozan delivers OT magic for the Chicago Bulls in 132-129 victory over the Indiana Pacers — but Coby White’s injury looms over the win

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DeMar DeRozan delivers OT magic for the Chicago Bulls in 132-129 victory over the Indiana Pacers — but Coby White’s injury looms over the win


INDIANAPOLIS — DeMar DeRozan never practices missing shots. So it was a foreign feeling when he attempted to purposefully miss his second free throw with three seconds left and a two-point deficit on the scoreboard in Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Wednesday.

Alex Caruso gave some quick advice — get the ball up as high as possible, try to place it on one side of the rim or the other and hope for the best. DeRozan tossed the ball high and it ricocheted as if he’d been practicing the move his whole career.

DeRozan moves with an uncommon ease in these moments. So after a purposeful miss and a lucky bounce, he was primed to end the game as a hero once again. The Bulls drew up a play for DeRozan. He broke it almost immediately, stepping down the baseline to pirouette and launch the tying shot that ultimately sent the Bulls to their 10th overtime of the season.

And when he returned to the bench, DeRozan turned to guard Jevon Carter to issue a promise: “I’m gonna go crazy.”

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DeRozan roped in nine points in overtime to close a 46-point performance, his highest-scoring night of the season and his fifth game with 45 or more points in his career as a Bull. Another clutch scoring night for the Bulls lifted them to a 132-129 win over the Indiana Pacers.

“Hall of Famer. One of the best scorers this game has ever seen,” Ayo Dosunmu said of DeRozan after the game. “He was locked in. I was very impressed with DeMar, just throughout the whole flow of the game, he was locked in no matter what. That’s very crucial for us, for him to be our leader, to always have that mindset and know that we have a chance to win no matter what.”

Despite the victory, the Bulls face a looming question after Wednesday’s win: the injury outlook for star guard Coby White, who exited the game after suffering a right hip injury in the final five seconds of regulation.

White was attempting to seal the win for the Bulls without the need for overtime, streaking up the court after grabbing a long-arcing rebound and leaping for a layup that would send the Bulls ahead by three points. But Pascal Siakam ran with him, swatting the shot away and landing on White in the process.

Upon landing, White’s left leg buckled up as his right leg splayed out at a 90-degree angle, twisting his hip outward. White immediately grabbed his thigh in pain but managed to walk to the locker room under his own power with a heavy limp.

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Chicago Bulls guard Coby White grabs his leg after a collision during the second half in Indianapolis on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Coach Billy Donovan confirmed after the game that White suffered a right hip injury. He will undergo scans when the team returns to Chicago. Donovan said the Bulls medical staff would be unable to assess the severity of that injury until they received those test results.

“We’ll have to keep our fingers crossed it’s nothing too serious,” Donovan said.

White declined to speak to the media after the game, but he was able to stand and walk around in the locker room while chatting and laughing with teammates during media availability.

The loss of White tested the Bulls in another clutch finish, which could have reduced the offense to solely rely on DeRozan to produce the majority of scoring in overtime. But even without their star guard, the Bulls had the advantage of experience.

The Pacers aren’t used to these moments. This was their first overtime game of the season. The Bulls, in comparison, have spent a league-leading 55 minutes in overtime — and 179 in the clutch — this season.

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DeRozan opened overtime with his typical offensive focus, scoring the first eight points for the Bulls. But the Pacers began to trap in earnest, attempting to get the ball out of DeRozan’s hands well above the 3-point line. This simply opened up the rest of the Bulls offense.

After the Pacers sprung a trap with just under a minute left in overtime, DeRozan told Dosunmu to go to the rim. He followed instructions at full speed, snagged the ensuing pass and scored a quick finger-rolling layup. On the next play, the Bulls followed the same strategy but fed Torrey Craig instead.

Each time the Bulls broke this trapping strategy, it outlined an important blueprint for the Bulls in future clutch games.

“It’s like a survival mode that kicks in — in a fun way,” DeRozan said. “You embrace those moments. For me, I just thrive off the moments. I’m not scared to fail. I’m not scared to make something happen. I want those moments more than anything. It always reminds me of my childhood, being a kid, doing a little fake countdown, jumping on the bed, shooting the shot. As a competitor, those moments are always something I try to relish in.”



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Young male dead after shooting on Indy’s northeast side

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Young male dead after shooting on Indy’s northeast side


INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Police say one “young man” is dead after a shooting at the 1200 block of Rue Rabelais at about 7:19 p.m. according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.

That is near the intersection of 56th Street and Binford Boulevard.

Police say the victim was taken to Riley Hospital where he later died. Investigators say they are still working to identify the victim.

There was no known information about a suspect. Police did say that they believe this is a targeted incident.

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There was no other information immediately available.

This story has been updated with information from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.



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Mother and boyfriend accused in death of 4-year-old boy found in closet

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Mother and boyfriend accused in death of 4-year-old boy found in closet


This story contains descriptions of distressing circumstances involving children.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – A mother and her boyfriend were accused of causing the death of a 4-year-old-boy found dead in a basement closet on Monday. 

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department arrested Angel Lovely, 37, and Nicholas Bergdoll, 36, on preliminary charges of neglect of a dependent causing death. The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office by Friday had not filed formal charges. 

A sibling found the 4-year-old dead on Monday, according to investigators. Lovely and Bergdoll were in the home at the time but told police they were asleep when he died. 

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Born premature with cerebral palsy, the 4-year old couldn’t walk, was nonverbal, and ate through a feeding tube. Lovely claimed she would rarely put the child in the closet, only “when he won’t stop screaming” or when she “needed a break.” 

But when investigators interviewed Lovely’s three other children, they said that the boy “stays in the closet all day,” and that “mom locks him in the closet” and “does not pay attention to him.” 

An exact cause of death hasn’t been determined, but the child was found with blood in his mouth. Lovely said he’d been aspirating.

One of Lovely’s children told investigators they heard the 4-year-old gagging but didn’t say anything because it wasn’t unusual.

A neighbor living on Monticello Drive, Michelle Johnson, told News 8, “It’s horrible. It breaks my heart.”  

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Johnson had seen the other children outside the home but never knew there was a boy in a wheelchair living there. She said if she suspected they were being neglected, she would have called police or the Indiana Department of Child Services.

“We’re supposed to be a village and raise kids together,” Johnson said. “That’s really heartbreaking.” 

Bergdoll told police, according to the investigators’ report, that he didn’t agree with putting the child in the closet: “I am not going to tell her how to f****** raise her kids.” 

“I’m sickened,” IMPD Public Information Officer Tommy Thompson told News 8 in an interview.
“Think about putting yourself in that situation. Every day, do you want to be in a closet? Locked up, no light?”

Court records show the Department of Child Services had removed the boy from Lovely’s care because of medical neglect, but she regained custody last year against DCS recommendations.  

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Thompson, the neighbor, hopes the tragedy can be an opportunity for others to speak up when they see a child who can’t speak up for themselves. “Maybe you’ve got to make that tough phone call. Reach out. The city has resources.”

Johnson wishes she would have known what was happening so she could have said something. “Children don’t have a voice and we’re supposed to be their voice.”

Help is available for victims of domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual assault. Below is a list of suggested resources, both national and local:



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Police arrest suspect in Westfield homicide

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Police arrest suspect in Westfield homicide


WESTFIELD, Ind. (WISH) — Police have arrested someone in connection to a homicide earlier this month in the Hamilton County city.

In a Friday night social media post, the Westfield Police Department announced the arrest but gave no details, including who was arrested or what preliminary charges the person may face.

“Due to the active nature of this case, limited details are available for release at this time,” the post said.

As WISHTV.com previously reported, James “Matt” Lushin, 47, was found dead shortly after 7:25 p.m. March 12 with trauma at his home in the 3900 block of Westfield Road, also known as State Road 32.

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Social media posts from the scene showed police tape and emergency vehicles at a red brick house between Shady Nook Road and Gray Road.

Lushin’s obituary said the Kokomo native was a key partner with the real estate investment company, FLF Property. The obituary also said, “Matt was also a respected and accomplished member of the international poker community. He traveled the world competing in tournaments and built an impressive and successful career.”

Police have previously said the death was believed to be isolated, posing no ongoing threat.

Officials have not released a specific cause or manner of death.

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