DeRozan, Vucevic lead Bulls past Pacers 125-99 to end 3-game losing streak
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MARCH 27: DeMar DeRozan #11 of the Chicago Bulls dribbles the ball against Aaron Nesmith #23 of the Indiana Pacers during the first half at the United Center on March 27, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly ack
CHICAGO - DeMar DeRozan scored 27 points and Nikola Vucevic added 22 with 12 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls past the Indiana Pacers 125-99 on Wednesday night to snap a three-game skid.
Coby White had 18 points to help Chicago take the season series from Indiana 3-1.
Andrew Nembhard scored 18 points for the Pacers, who concluded a five-game trip at 3-2 and remained in sixth place in the Eastern Conference.
Chicago limited Pascal Siakam to 14 points after the two-time All-Star had scored 25 or more in four straight games and 36 and 31 in his last two, respectively. The Pacers were held to 40% shooting, while the Bulls shot 50% in an often sloppy game.
Ayo Dosunmu scored 17 on 7-for-11 shooting, including 3 for 5 on 3-pointers. Andre Drummond added 14 points and 11 rebounds off the bench for Chicago, ninth in the East.
The Bulls took charge late in the second quarter by outscoring and outmuscling the Pacers 22-6 in the final 6:24 to build a 64-43 halftime lead. Chicago shot 55.6 %, while Indiana lagged at 35% in the first half.
Vucevic led the way with 15 points in the half and helped spark the surge with 7-for-11 shooting. Dosunmu had 11 points in the half.
Indiana scored the first seven points in the second half to start a comeback that narrowed the Bulls' lead to 71-64 with just over four minutes left in the third quarter when T.J. McConnell hit a pair of free throws. The Pacers didn’t pull closer than seven, however.
DeRozan, Drummond and Dosunmu helped thwart the Pacers with timely baskets that wrested back momentum late in the third and made it 87-74 after the quarter.
Chicago pulled away in the fourth.
Bulls coach Billy Donovan said injured Zach LaVine (right foot surgery), Patrick Williams (left foot surgery) and Lonzo Ball (left knee surgery) could be in Chicago on Monday when the Bulls host Atlanta, then continue rehabbing in town with the team the rest of the season.
UP NEXT
Pacers: Host the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.
Bulls: At Brooklyn on Friday.