New-Look Bulls Top Pacers 113-107

[February 28, 2008]  INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Larry Hughes had 29 points and Drew Gooden added 10 points and 15 rebounds, helping the new-look Chicago Bulls to a 113-107 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night.

Luol Deng finished with 16 points and Ben Gordon scored 15 for the Bulls (23-34), who won for the first time since acquiring Hughes and Gooden from Cleveland on Feb. 21.

Mike Dunleavy had 25 points, Travis Diener scored 22 and Troy Murphy chipped in 19 for the slumping Pacers (22-36).

With the score tied at 82, the Bulls scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter, including five by Andres Nocioni, to open a seven-point lead.

Indiana cut the deficit to 97-94 following seven straight points by Dunleavy with 6 minutes left. The Bulls answered with the next six points, capped by Hughes' 3-pointer, to regain a 103-94 edge.

The Pacers got within 110-105 with 57 seconds left, but Gooden's free throw and Hughes' layup sealed the victory.

After 15 lead changes and 12 ties during the first half, the Pacers took a 57-56 lead into the break following Dunleavy's two free throws late in the second quarter. The Bulls trailed despite shooting 56 percent from the field and holding Indiana to 43 percent in the opening half.

The Pacers opened their biggest lead, 74-63, on consecutive jumpers by Diener with 7 minutes left in the third quarter. Chicago fought back, taking a 77-76 advantage following Gooden's dunk minutes later.

Indiana regained an 82-79 lead late in the period, but Gordon's 3-pointer tied it heading into the fourth quarter.

Notes: Pacers F Jermaine O'Neal missed his 17th straight game with a bone bruise in his left knee, and G Jamaal Tinsley missed has missed 12 of the last 15 games with a sore left knee ... Gooden and Hughes were playing their third game with the Bulls since being traded from Cleveland. Chicago lost the previous two games at Houston and Dallas. ... Gooden and Hughes will make their home debut at the United Center against Washington on Friday. ... Pacers F Shawne Williams (personal reasons) left at halftime and did not return. ... Indiana has lost eight of its last 11 games and three in a row. ... Entering Wednesday, the Pacers had won 15 of their last 17 against the Bulls at Conseco Fieldhouse.

[Associated Press]

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