Last Updated: Oct. 19 at 2:45 PM
Matchup
The Pacers return to the floor on Tuesday night, when they'll take on the Chicago Bulls at the United Center in their penultimate preseason contest. Since dropping their preseason opener against the Pelicans on Oct. 3, the Blue & Gold have reeled off four consecutive wins.
Wins and losses, however, are merely a secondary focus during the exhibition schedule. Indiana's biggest focus has been installing a new up-tempo offensive system. The early results have been promising, with the Pacers averaging 105 points per game over five preseason contests (they haven't averaged more than 97.7 points over any of the past four seasons).
But now, with the regular season quickly approaching (Indiana's season opener at Toronto takes place just eight days after Tuesday's preseason contest), head coach Frank Vogel said he expects to approach his team's final two preseason games as if it were the regular season. Expect Vogel to shorten his rotation and play his starters more minutes than he has earlier this month.
While Vogel has started a smaller lineup with Paul George at power forward over the first five exhibitions, he said that he plans to open with a bigger lineup against the Bulls. George will slide back to small forward while Lavoy Allen moves into the starting frontcourt alongside center Ian Mahinmi. Vogel said that either Allen or Jordan Hill could start at power forward if the team opts to "go big," but Allen will get the call on Tuesday as Hill is out with a sore back.
Projected Starters
George Hill
Monta Ellis
Paul George
Lavoy Allen
Ian Mahinmi
Kirk Hinrich
Jimmy Butler
Nikola Mirotic
Pau Gasol
Joakim Noah
Pacers: PG - George Hill, SG - Monta Ellis, SF - Paul George, PF - Lavoy Allen, C - Ian Mahinmi
Bulls: PG - Kirk Hinrich, SG - Jimmy Butler, SF - Nikola Mirotic, PF - Pau Gasol, C - Joakim Noah
Injury Report
Pacers: Jordan Hill - out (sore lower back)
Bulls: Derrick Rose - out (orbital fracture)
Last Meeting
March 18, 2015: The Bulls cruised to a 103-86 win over the Pacers at the United Center. Chicago outrebounded their Central Division rivals, 52-38.
Solomon Hill was Indiana's leading scorer with just 13 points, though five more Pacers players scored between 10 and 12.
Nikola Mirotic led the Bulls with 25 points and nine rebounds. Mike Dunleavy added 21 points, while Pau Gasol chipped in 19 points and 12 rebounds.
Noteworthy
- As always, the Pacers and Bulls will meet four times in the regular season, with games in Chicago on Nov. 16 and Dec. 30 and contests at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Nov. 27 and March 29.
- Bulls forward Mike Dunleavy spent four and a half seasons with the Pacers from 2007-11.
Broadcast Information TV & Radio Listings »
TV: NBA TV
Radio: 107.5 FM/AM 1070 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Pat Boylan (studio host)
Tickets
The Pacers host Cody Zeller and the Charlotte Hornets in a preseason game in Fort Wayne on Thursday, Oct. 22. Good seats still remain for that special exhibition: Find Tickets »