Preview: Bulls at Pacers
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[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.
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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."
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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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