First Thoughts: Indiana 97, Chicago 92
By CHRIS GOFF
ISL Correspondent
Let’s take a quick look at how the Indiana Pacers grazed the Chicago Bulls in a 97-92 victory on Sunday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
WHY IT HAPPENED: David West and Roy Hibbert thoroughly outplayed Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah inside, cutting off injury-riddled Chicago’s best chance to win the game. West had 31 points and seven rebounds, while Hibbert added 18 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks. Hibbert converted two huge shots in a tense final five minutes. George Hill had 21 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Pacers and went 6-of-6 from the field. The franchise record for field goals without a miss is nine. Indiana overcame 15 turnovers to shoot 47 percent as a team and limit the Bulls to 43 percent. The Pacers (38-22) now own a four-game lead over Chicago (34-26) in the Central Division with 22 left to play.
WHAT WE LEARNED: Playing without Derrick Rose, Kirk Hinrich, Richard Hamilton and Taj Gibson, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau simply did not have the personnel available to defeat a very good Indiana team on the road. Playing on the second night of a back-to-back, the Bulls trailed 47-40 at halftime and were tied at 80 midway through the fourth quarter. That’s typical of a Thibodeau team: a competitive, fervent effort no matter the circumstances. Indiana played a less-than-stellar game, mainly due to a disgraceful performance by the bench, but West, Hibbert and Hill were better than any Bull, and Paul George played a better all-around game than Luol Deng. Danny Granger tweaked his left knee, the one that caused him to miss him the first 55 games of the season, in the first half and did not return. The team was apparently being cautious, but any sign of pain from Granger is a cause for concern. The idea that Granger never returns to the starting lineup this season cannot be ruled out.
KEY NUMBER: Indiana controlled the glass 52-44. The Pacers entered the night leading the league in rebounding margin (+4.7) and held Chicago, a great offensive rebounding team, to just eight offensive rebounds on 46 missed shots.
TURNING POINT: After Hill missed two free throws, Chicago miraculously received not one, but two chances to tie the game. Marco Belinelli (20 points) missed a 3 with seven seconds left, but the rebound grazed off George out of bounds. Noah caught the inbounds pass but fumbled the ball away as he tried to make a hand-off. West gathered the steal to save the game.
NEXT: The Pacers are home again Wednesday night for their second game of the year against the Boston Celtics, who lost star point guard Rajon Rondo for the season.
