Chicago Bulls Fall to 1-3, Pacers Improve to 5-0

 @nategrayzone

Two teams that will more than likely be in the top five in the Eastern Conference playoffs squared off tonight, Chicago Bulls at Indiana Pacers. It was their first meeting of the season.

Chicago took over in the second quarter while Indiana did the same in the third, bringing the game to a 63-62, Pacers lead at the end of the third. That score is actually a normal early to mid third quarter score. That leaves something to be said about a good defensive effort on both ends, but it was rather a result of semi poor shooting on both ends, until Indian got hot!

Besides, Derrick Rose showed signs of finding his rhythm. He had 15 points at the half, but was rather quiet after halftime.  He still has ways to go. He was shooting 46 percent from the field. He is also playing less minutes. I’m assuming bulls coach wants to build him up by taking it easy, slowly bringing him into the full mix.

Indiana opened a three point fest on Chicago late in the third through most of the fourth quarter. It started with shooting guard, Lance Stephenson. Paul George hit key three’s at key times. Pacers newly acquired power forward, Luis Scola led the bench with 12 points. Former Bull, CJ Watson chipped in 11. Half of that was on 4 of 4 free throw shooting. A pair of them was from a foul by D. Rose.

Indiana Pacers basically owned the Chicago Bulls in the fourth quarter. They led by ten with 3:07 remaining in the fourth. Bulls personnel on the floor at the time was Rose, Hinrich, Boozer, Butler, and Noah. This was also when Rose added to his 15 points since halftime. He scored on a pair of free throws.

Indiana increased the lead to 18 with 1:05 remaining in regulation..

Rose and Deng led the Bulls with 17 points. It was a quiet night for Carlos Boozer. He shot 3 for 10 from the field and finished with 6 points. That was not enough to compete with Pacers power forwards David West, Luis Scola, and center, Roy Hibbert. They all combined for 37 points.

Indiana Pacers defeated Chicago Bulls 97-80. Chicago falls to 1-3, Pacers improve to 5-0. Not to mention a close call in the Bulls previous matchup with the Knicks, Chicago could very well be winless with an 0-4 start if they didn’t win by one point.

Follow @nategrayzone