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 Indiana has been up and down all month but is finishing December
strong despite star forward Paul George’s offensive slump. George
made up for a 3-of-14 shooting effort on Monday with a pair of
steals to help force 22 turnovers as the Pacers ended the Atlanta
Hawks’ six-game winning streak with a 93-87 triumph. One of
Indiana’s two losses in November was a 96-95 setback at Chicago on
Nov. 16, and the Bulls just got done shrugging off another Eastern
Conference playoff contender at home with a 104-97 triumph over
Toronto on Monday. The win was just the second in the last five
games for Chicago, which showed off its depth as three reserves
combined for 51 points.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN Indiana, WGN (Chicago)
ABOUT THE PACERS (18-12): George’s slump is giving other players a
chance to shine, and Monta Ellis scored a season-high 26 points in
his third straight 20-plus effort on Monday. “My body is coming
around," Ellis told reporters. “I've been dealing with a few
injuries with my knee, (but) it's starting to feel better. Once my
body feels good, I'm able to move like I want to and attack the
basket like I should.” Ellis is 26-of-48 from the field in the last
three games and has six steals in that span to help out the effort
on the other end.
ABOUT THE BULLS (17-12): Joakim Noah (shoulder) is not around to
help out the reserves over the next couple of weeks, but rookie
Bobby Portis is working his way into the frontcourt rotation and
Tony Snell stepped up in place of Doug McDermott (knee) with 22
points on Monday. "That was, I think, the difference in the game,
the way that they came out and played,” Chicago point guard Derrick
Rose told reporters of the reserves. “It seemed like they knew where
the ball was going, who was going to have the ball, and it looked
more organized." Portis (12 points, nine rebounds) and guard Aaron
Brooks (17 points) took over down the stretch along with Pau Gasol
and Taj Gibson as coach Fred Hoiberg continues to search for the
right mix.
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BUZZER BEATERS
1. Indiana SF C.J. Miles (back) sat out Monday and is day-to-day.
2. Gasol is averaging 20.3 points on 55.4 percent shooting in the
last four games.
3. The home team has taken each of the last four in the series.
PREDICTION: Bulls 102, Pacers 99
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