Preview: Bulls at Pacers

[December 30, 2016]  The Indiana Pacers are losers of four straight games and are hoping a stretch with four of five games at home can turn their fortunes. The Pacers, who are 11-5 in their own building, will begin that stretch by hosting the Chicago Bulls on Friday.

The Bulls contributed to Indiana's recent woes with a 90-85 win at Chicago on Monday in a game that led Pacers star forward Paul George and head coach Nate McMillan to question the referees due to a 28-10 disparity in free-throw attempts. George was handed a $15,000 fine by the NBA for his comments, in which he called Indiana the NBA's "little brother" for the way it's treated by officials, and went from one free-throw attempt on Monday to eight on Wednesday at Washington, but the Pacers still suffered a 111-105 loss to the Wizards and were at a 37-29 disadvantage in attempts overall. The Bulls needed a last-second jumper from Jimmy Butler to earn a 101-99 home win over the lowly Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday. The triumph was the second straight after a stretch of six losses in seven games for Chicago, which will take one last shot at winning a road game in December after dropping its first five this month away from home.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, CSN Chicago, FSN Indiana

ABOUT THE BULLS (16-16): Butler was held under 20 points in back-to-back games before exploding for 40 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and four steals in Wednesday's win, including the 18-footer at the buzzer for the win. The star swingman had to be helped off the court after coming down on an opponent's foot with over five minutes left but came back and scored nine points down the stretch to guide Chicago back to the .500 mark. The Bulls, who are 10-6 at home, can build some momentum with four of five at home after the trip to Indiana.

 ABOUT THE PACERS (15-18): Indiana is still losing, but at least George appears to be emerging from a shooting slump. The All-Star forward shot 36.2 percent, including 1-of-12 from 3-point range, during the first three games of the losing streak but buried 6-of-10 from beyond the arc on Wednesday and scored 34 points for his third 30-point outing of the campaign. "I just came in tonight with a clear understanding of how these games are going to go, and then I just chose to either let what's happening happen on that court continue to happen, or continue to just be me," George told reporters of tuning out the officiating on Wednesday. "I owe this team more and I am going to give more regardless of what is going on that court. I am going to make sure I am having fun."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Pacers SG Monta Ellis (groin) returned from a seven-game absence on Wednesday and managed four points on 1-of-5 shooting in 18 minutes off the bench.

2. Bulls PG Michael Carter-Williams (wrist) is 1-of-11 in two games back after missing nearly two months.

3. Chicago took two of the first three meetings this season but suffered a 111-94 loss at Indiana on Nov. 5.

PREDICTION: Bulls 106, Pacers 103

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