Pacers Pull Off Thrilling Comeback Against Bulls
In a thrilling encounter on Wednesday night, the Indiana Pacers pulled off an impressive comeback against the Chicago Bulls, securing a 113-110 victory at home in Indianapolis. The Pacers found themselves trailing by as much as 14 points during the fourth quarter but rallied back, thanks to critical plays from Aaron Nesmith.
With just 13.9 seconds left on the clock, Nesmith executed a decisive reverse layup to take the lead, before showcasing his defensive skills by blocking a close-range shot from Coby White just seconds later.
Key Performances
Notable performances included Pascal Siakam, who led Indiana with 20 points, while Andrew Nembhard and Jarace Walker contributed 18 and 16 points respectively. Bennedict Mathurin also made an impact with 15 points, and Nesmith rounded out the scoring with 14 points.
This win improved the Pacers’ record against the Bulls this season to a perfect 3-0 and marked their second victory in three games, following a triumph over the reigning NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, last Friday.
Challenges for the Pacers
Despite holding the league’s best record, the Thunder’s previous match, which saw the Pacers suffering due to Tyrese Haliburton’s serious injury, highlighted Indiana’s struggle this season as they sit at the bottom of the standings.
Bulls’ Performance
For the Bulls, Nikola Vucevic stood out with 25 points, and Matas Buzelis added 20, but Chicago’s loss marked their second consecutive defeat, placing them one game below .500 with a record of 23-24. The Bulls initially held a strong 101-87 lead after a layup from Jalen Smith with under eight minutes to go, but an 18-4 surge from the Pacers, capped with Jay Huff’s three-pointer, allowed Indiana to tie the game at 105.
Vucevic briefly reclaimed the advantage for Chicago with a three-pointer, pushing the score to 110-109, before Johnny Furphy secured the game with two free throws that established the final score.
Additionally, Josh Giddey of the Bulls recorded seven assists in the game, surpassing 2,000 career assists at only 23 years old, making him the 15th player in NBA history to achieve this milestone by that age.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, the Bulls will face the Miami Heat on Thursday night, while the Pacers prepare to host the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday.
