Pacers-Bulls Preview

By ALAN FERGUSON
Posted Mar 05 2012 12:15AM

Although trips to Chicago haven't traditionally brought out their best, the Indiana Pacers are one of only two teams to win on the Bulls' home floor this season.

When they return to the United Center on Monday night, the red-hot Pacers will seek their first seven-game win streak in eight years. However, they will be facing a Chicago team that's also searching for a season-high seventh consecutive win and might have some motivation from the previous matchup.

Including last year's playoff series, Indiana (23-12) is 4-18 in its last 22 trips to Chicago, but the Pacers won 95-90 there Jan. 25 as six of their players scored in double figures. They held the Bulls to 36 second-half points and All-Star point guard Derrick Rose to two in the fourth quarter.

Danny Granger's 22 points led the way in that victory and Roy Hibbert chipped in 20. Chicago got 24 points from Rose and a season-high 20 from Ronnie Brewer, but All-Star forward Luol Deng didn't play due to a torn ligament in his left wrist.

"I'll never forget how they celebrated just from winning this game. I can't wait to play them again," Rose said.

Rose tied a season high with 35 points Sunday to help the Bulls win 96-91 at Philadelphia. The Atlantic Division-leading 76ers missed three shots in the final 1:21 that could have tied the game.

"It was great knowing we didn't get distracted toward the end," Rose said. "We knew what we had to do."

The Bulls (31-8), who moved two games ahead of Miami atop the Eastern Conference, will now try to win seven in a row for the first time since their nine straight wins to end last season. They'll also try to deny the Pacers their first seven-game winning streak in a single season since Feb. 28-March 12, 2004.

The Pacers also won nine in a row bridging the end of that season and the start of 2004-05.

Indiana is averaging 104.0 points during its current run and outscoring its opponents by 17.5 per game. The Pacers blew out New Orleans 102-84 on Saturday as six of their players scored in double figures - something that's happened in Indiana's last five contests.

"We're playing really well right now and playing with a lot of confidence," said Granger, who had a team-best 20 points.

The Pacers, who trail the Bulls by six games in the Central Division and own the third-best record in the East, now must contend with a Chicago team which is 14-2 at home and has won three in a row at the United Center.

Rose averaged a team-best 27.6 points in last year's five-game playoff series with Indiana, and has scored 28.8 per game over the last four regular-season matchups in this series.

Granger averaged 21.6 points in last year's East quarterfinals - 10.4 more than any other Pacers player - and has scored 24.7 per game in his last nine regular-season matchups with Chicago.

Indiana is seeking a third straight victory over Chicago in the regular season, but the Bulls have still won 14 of the last 22 matchups between the teams excluding playoffs.

Bulls blow away Pacers in second half

Posted Mar 05 2012 11:49PM

CHICAGO (AP) A dynamite third quarter by Derrick Rose and the Bulls denied Indiana any chance of a second straight win in Chicago.

Luol Deng scored 20 points, teaming with Rose in a decisive rally that sent Chicago to its seventh straight victory, 92-72 over the Pacers on Monday night.

"We had a lot more energy in the second half than we did in the first half," Deng said.

Rose added 13 points and nine assists, hitting three 3-pointers while Deng had two in the third as the Bulls blew open a close game.

"We fought our way back into the game," Rose said. "Our energy was kind of low and shots weren't falling. But we rebounded the ball and finished the game pretty good."

Joakim Noah had 17 rebounds to lead the Bulls to a dominating 60-32 edge on the boards. Chicago outscored the Pacers 20-4 on second-chance points. John Lucas III scored 13 points, one of three Chicago reserves in double figures.

"We struggled offensively in the first half," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. "In the third quarter, we had great energy and imposed our will. The rebounding is what got us over the hump."

Paul George scored 21 points for Indiana, which had a six-game winning streak snapped. George Hill scored 17 points off the bench.

"Give credit to the Bulls," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "They had all the hustle stats. Won all the loose balls and obviously kicked our butts on the glass. "

The Bulls improved their league-best record to 32-8. Chicago stretched its lead to 2 1/2 games over Miami atop the Eastern Conference and to seven games over Indiana in the Central Division.

The Pacers were trying to win a seventh straight game for the first time in eight years.

"They really picked it up defensively," George said. "We deferred to them. Everybody on their side stepped up when we somewhat had Derrick Rose contained. Everybody else stepped up."

Chicago avenged a 95-90 loss to the Pacers on Jan. 25, one of just two home losses this season. Rose was irked after that game because of what he perceived to be Indiana's excessive celebration on the court after the game ended, saying "I can't wait till we play them again."

"You don't want to lose to a team twice in a row," Deng said. "Especially a team that we might face in the playoffs."

After the game, Rose sounded was more conciliatory.

"They're a good team," Rose said. "The last time we played them, they beat us here. Now we just have to deal with them. They put up a fight every time we play them. We're used to. I think it makes us better as a team."

Bulls guard Richard Hamilton left the game after just 1:23 had elapsed with a right shoulder injury. He did not return.

Ronnie Brewer came on for Hamilton and had 12 points and seven rebounds in 39 minutes. Fellow reserve Taj Gibson added 10 points and nine boards.

"Thibs always tells us to be ready because you never know when you're time is going to come," Brewer said. "Whenever we come in, we have to try to bring energy and change the game one way or another."

Indiana led by three two minutes into the second half when the Bulls went on a 20-4 spree that featured a pair of nine-point runs. After starting the game by missing nine of his first 10 shots, Rose capped the first run with a 3-pointer to put Chicago up 53-47.

"We definitely got stagnant," said Pacers forward Danny Granger, who was held to 11 points. "We didn't get a lot of movement. They picked up their intensity and we had some bad turnovers that led to layups on the other end."

Indiana closed within four before Chicago hit three consecutive 3-pointers, one by Rose and the last two by Deng. His long one from straight on as the shot clock expired put Chicago up by 13.

The Bulls extended the lead to 19 by the time their third-quarter burst ended. Chicago outscored the Pacers 33-13 in the period, held Indiana to 6-of-22 shooting and outrebounded the Pacers 18-7. Rose had 11 points and five assists to lead the charge.

Rose rested for the entire fourth quarter as Indiana could get no closer than 13 points. When the Pacers looked like they might make one last run, Rose began to stretch but ultimately settled back onto his seat and watched from the sideline.

"I'm not worried about the shots that I miss," Rose said. "Amnesia. I know that when I get things going, it's pretty hard to stop."

The Pacers are looking forward to their next test against their division foe.

"We still have games to play (against the Bulls) in Indiana and it will be a different story," Granger said.

NOTES: Bulls backup point guard C.J. Watson did not play because of a sprained left ankle. Watson was injured during Chicago's win over Philadelphia on Sunday, but was able to finish the game. Coach Tom Thibodeau said Watson had experienced swelling around the injury on Monday and did not know a timetable for his return. . The Bulls, who improved to 15-2 at home this season, play 16 of their last 26 regular-season games at the United Center. . Thibodeau said Hamilton will be examined on Tuesday, but wasn't sure of the exact nature of his injury.

Notebook: Bulls 92, Pacers 72

Posted Monday March 5, 2012 11:37PM

By Kent McDill, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: The host Chicago Bulls took over in the third quarter and ran past the Indiana Pacers 92-72 Monday at the United Center. The victory gave the Bulls a seven-game winning streak and ended the Pacers' own six-game wining streak. Luol Deng was the leading scorer for the Bulls with 20 points and Derrick Rose and John Lucas III each had 13. Joakim Noah had 17 rebounds for the Bulls. Paul George led the Pacers with 21 points.

THE FACTS II: Pacers center Roy Hibbert got two quick fouls in the game and basically disappeared, finishing with two points and seven rebounds in 25 minutes of play. Rose, Carlos Boozer and Deng were 3-for-21 from the field in the first half for the Bulls.

QUOTABLE: "Last time we played them, they beat us here. Now we just have to deal with them, where they put up a fight every time we play them."
-- Rose on the budding rivalry between the Bulls and Pacers.

THE STAT: The Bulls and Pacers are the second and third best rebounding teams in the league, but the Bulls outboarded the Pacers 60-32 in the game. The Bulls had 18 offensive rebounds.

THE STAT II: The Bulls were 9 for 15 from 3-point range.

TURNING POINT: After trailing at halftime by one point, the Bulls outscored the Pacers 33-13 in the third quarter, and ended the frame on a 20-5 run.

INJURY UPDATE: Bulls guard Rip Hamilton, who was working his way back from a leg injury, collided with a Pacer player in the game's second minute and left the game for good. Bulls guard C.J. Watson did not play after suffering a severely twisted ankle in Philadelphia Sunday. Pacers center Jeff Foster did not play again because of his back problems and had an undisclosed procedure done Monday that will keep him out of action at least a week.

HOT: Ronnie Brewer, who took over for Hamilton in the game's second minute, had 12 points and seven rebounds as an almost starter.

NOT: Pacers' leading scorer Danny Granger had just 11 points on 4-for-12 shooting.

GOOD MOVE: When the Indiana Pacers cut the Bulls' lead from 22 points to 13 points midway through the fourth quarter, Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau decided to put his starters Noah and Deng back in the game. But he kept Rose on the bench and let Lucas close the game out.

QUOTABLE II: "When you let a team at home, as good as this is, get momentum on you, they can score a lot of points in a short amount of time."
-- Granger on the Bulls' third quarter run.

NOTABLE: The Bulls victory avenged one of their two home losses of the season, a 95-90 loss to Indiana on Jan. 25 when the Pacers celebrated the win a bit too much for the Bulls' liking. As a result, the Pacers are the No. 2 rival for the Bulls this season behind the Miami Heat.

UP NEXT: For the Bulls, @ Bucks Wednesday, vs. Magic Thursday, vs. Jazz Saturday. For the Pacers, vs. Hawks Tuesday, @ Heat Saturday, @ Magic Sunday.

• Pacers: --
• Bulls: --

• Pacers: --
• Bulls: --

• Lead Changes: 14
• Times Tied: 4

• Arena: United Center, Chicago, IL
• Officials: #17 Joe Crawford, #18 Matt Boland, #70 Brent Barnaky
• Attendance: 22106
• Duration: 2:11