@ CHICAGO BULLS (21-9) @ INDIANA PACERS (11-20) Game 31, Road Game 18 Monday, Dec. 29, 2014 – 6:00 PM CT Bankers Life Fieldhouse WGN-TV / ESPN 1000 AM Game Notes BULLS/PACERS STREAKS BULLS CURRENT STREAK ...... 1 Loss BULLS HOME STREAK ............. 1 Loss BULLS ROAD STREAK .......... 4 Losses BULLS VS. PACERS THIS SEASON Nov. 15 @ Chicago – Bulls 90, Pacers 99 Dec. 29 @ Indiana – March 6 @ Indiana – March 18 @ Chicago – ALL-TIME Overall 89-80 Home 60-24 Road 29-56 Neutral 0-0 Chicago Bulls (21-9) Home 8-5 Road 13-4 Bulls Season Averages: PPG: 103.5 (Opp: 98.7) RPG: 45.5 (Opp: 42.1) APG: 22.0 (Opp: 20.6) SPG: 5.70 (Opp: 7.67) BPG: 6.10 (Opp: 4.93) TO: 13.9 (Opp: 11.4) FG%: .458 (Opp: .433) FT%: .777 (Opp: .771) 3p%: .365 (Opp: .348) Probable Bulls starters Derrick Rose - PG - Jimmy Butler - SG - Mike Dunleavy - SF - Pau Gasol - PF - Joakim Noah - C - Bulls Stats Leaders Points: Butler 22.0, Gasol 18.1 Rebounds: Gasol 11.4, Noah 9.8 Assists: Rose 4.8, Noah 4.0 Steals: Butler 1.50, Hinrich 0.96 Blocks: Gasol 2.07, Gibson 1.38 FG%: Gibson .544, Butler .491 FT%: Brooks .850, Butler .833 3FG%: Brooks .421, Mirotic .412 Injury report Doug McDermott (right knee) is out; Kirk Hinrich (left hamstring strain) is doubtful; Taj Gibson (right ankle), Joakim Noah (right ankle), Pau Gasol (left chest contusion) are probable. For a full report and the latest on Bulls' injuries, check out the AthletiCo Injury Report. Indiana Pacers (11-20) Home 6-8 Road 5-12 Probable Pacers starters George Hill - PG Rodney Stuckey - SG Solomon Hill - SF David West - PF Roy Hibbert - C Injury report Paul George – Out – Fractured Right Tibia/Fibula Ian Mahinmi – Out – Torn Left Plantar Fascia C.J. Miles – Questionable – Upper Respiratory Infection Damjan Rudez – Questionable – Upper Respiratory Infection --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indiana Pacers @Pacers Vogel tells the media pregame, "We're trying to reestablish a dominating defense. George Hill's return has been a big piece to that."
Nick Friedell @NickFriedell Vogel, speaking for the entire league here, on Jimmy Butler: I don't think anybody expected this kind of explosion from him."
Candace Buckner @CandaceDBuckner Also, CJ Miles will be back on the floor. However, Rudez will be active but likely not used bc he hasn't practiced or played in a while
Jeff Mangurten @JeffGurt The Bulls are shooting 40% from 3-point range during their current 6-game winning streak.
Nick Friedell @NickFriedell The latest person to call Jimmy Butler a star? That would be Derrick Rose. Butler seems to gain more fans around the league each day.
Candace Buckner @CandaceDBuckner Gracias to the indomitable @NatJNewell for this stat: If #Pacers hit 50% for 5th straight gm, it will be their 1st time doing so since 2009.
Alex Kennedy @AlexKennedyNBA Jimmy Butler is just such a dominant two-way player now. He's a coach's dream. It's no surprise Tom Thibodeau plays him as much as possible.
I wont be able to do the play-by-play. Feeling a bit puny at the moment. If I feel better, I may return before the game ends.
K.C. Johnson @KCJHoop In his 4 games back from illness, Derrick Rose is averaging 9.8 points in the fourth quarter.
Ugly but effective half. The Pacers are plucky but just not that talented. They kind of remind me of our team last year. If we come out focused in the third we might be able to sit some of our starters later on in preparation for the game tomorrow.
Jeff Mangurten @JeffGurt At the 2:54 mark of the 3rd quarter the Bulls were shooting 45%. They made 3 of their last 26 shots and finished at 34%.
Jeff Mangurten @JeffGurt Indiana's bench outscored (48-42) and outrebounded (26-18) their starters tonight.
