INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Bulls were looking to go into their longest homestand of the season on a three-game winning streak.
Instead, they’ll be trying to start a new one.
Pascal Siakam scored 26 points, Thomas Bryant added a season-high 22 and two-time All-Star Tyrese Haliburton had 16 points and 13 assists, as the surging Indiana Pacers snapped the Bulls’ modest two-game winning streak Wednesday night with a 129-113 victory in Indianapolis.
The Bulls return to the United Center on Friday night to host the Washington Wizards, kicking off a five-game homestand that runs through the following Friday, Jan. 17.
The Bulls went into Wednesday’s game after uplifting home wins over the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs, but Siakam made 11 of 17 shots from the field to help Indiana win its fourth straight, all by 10 or more points. Bryant also had eight rebounds, as the Pacers continued climbing the Eastern Conference standings with their 10th win in 13 games.
Zach LaVine led the Bulls with 31 points and Coby White had 19 points and five assists, as Chicago lost for the first time in three games and just the second time in six.
Indiana led 36-18 early in the second quarter. Chicago never got within single digits again.
The Pacers led by 34 in the third quarter. Chicago cut the deficit to 14 several times in the fourth.
Takeaways
Bulls: Chicago played its way back into the playoff mix with its recent resurgence. But trying to out-tempo the lightning-quick Pacers wasn’t bound to work, especially in Indianapolis. It didn’t, and now the Bulls trail 2-0 in the season series.
Entering play Thursday, the Bulls (17-20) have maintained their hold on 10th place in the Eastern Conference standings, one game ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers for the final play-in spot. They’re now 2.5 games behind the Pacers (20-18) for sixth place and the final playoff spot.
Of course, with over half the regular season to go, the standings can be taken with a grain of salt at this point.
Pacers: Indiana has played its best stretch of basketball over the past month, and this time the Pacers didn’t even need center Myles Turner to keep the momentum going. Turner missed the game with an illness, but the Pacers continued rolling.
Key moment
When Haliburton left late in the first quarter, it appeared as if Chicago might dig itself out of a 23-18 deficit. Instead, the Pacers poured it on, charging to a 36-18 early in the second quarter, forcing Chicago to play catch-up for the rest of the game.
Key stat
The Bulls had 14 first-half turnovers, compared to four for Indiana. They only had four in the second half, but to put it in full context, Haliburton now has 51 assists and five turnovers in Indiana’s last six games.
Up next
The Bulls begin a five-game homestand Friday night against Washington. The Wizards have the NBA’s worst record entering Thursday at 6-29, but one of those wins came on Jan. 1 against the Bulls in Washington, D.C.
The Pacers host Golden State on Friday night.