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George has scored 25 or more points in six straight games –
the longest such stretch of his career – and is averaging 29.3
points and 9.3 rebounds in that span to lead Indiana. "No
question he is a great player,” Minnesota Timberwolves guard
Andrew Wiggins told reporters of George after the Pacers’
107-103 win on Friday. “It was fun to match up against him. I
was very impressed by him as a defensive player. Everybody knows
he can score, but he's a really, really well-rounded player."
The Bulls have a similar talent in guard Jimmy Butler, who
bounced back from a seven-point effort at Philadelphia on Monday
with 27 in a 102-97 triumph over the Charlotte Hornets on
Friday. “We’re a team that has a lot of talent,” Chicago center
Pau Gasol told reporters. “When we play well and play hard and
play together we are tough to beat.”
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN Indiana, CSN Chicago
ABOUT THE PACERS (6-4): George is getting some help off the
bench from second-year forward Glenn Robinson III, who is seeing
his role increase up to a season-high 11 points and 21 minutes
on Friday. Robinson played in only 35 games last season split
between Minnesota and Philadelphia and sat out the first four
games of this season before finding his way into the rotation.
“It's surprising for a young player to make steady, solid
plays," Indiana coach Frank Vogel told reporters of Robinson. "I
feel good every time he's out there."
ABOUT THE BULLS (6-3): Joakim Noah returned to the lineup on
Friday after missing the previous game with a sore knee and
pulled down a season-high 18 rebounds in 23 minutes off the
bench. Noah is averaging just 2.5 points on 30.8 percent
shooting but continues to help the club in other areas. “(Noah)
had great pop, great bounce,” Chicago coach Fred Hoiberg told
reporters. “He was out there yelling and screaming at everybody.
That’s always a good sign when Jo is doing that. First
possession he got in there he tipped one in. It’s always nice to
have that and he continued to play his tail off and that is who
Joakim Noah is.”
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Bulls G Derrick Rose is shooting 5.6 percent from 3-point
range.
2. Pacers G Rodney Stuckey (ankle) missed the last two games and
is day-to-day.
3. The teams split four meetings last season, with Indiana
grabbing one win in Chicago.
PREDICTION: Bulls 96, Pacers 94
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