Pascal Siakam had 36 points and 10 rebounds and Bennedict Mathurin added 28 points to lift the visiting Indiana Pacers to a 120-105 victory against the scuffling Chicago Bulls on Friday night.
Indiana stopped a two-game slide while sending the Bulls to their season-high sixth straight defeat. Chicago, which has lost 12 of 15, shot 44.2% compared to 53.6% for Indiana.
Andrew Nembhard (15 points), Jay Huff (11) and Ethan Thompson (11) also scored in double figures for the Pacers, but the efficiency of Siakam and Mathurin led the way. The duo combined on 22-for-40 shooting, including Mathurin’s 6 for 11 effort from deep.
Coby White led Chicago with 22 points and Matas Buzelis posted a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds.
Siakam scored nine points and Mathurin had six during a 20-6 Pacers run that stretched Indiana’s advantage to 19 points early in the third quarter.
Chicago regrouped after that, using a 20-4 spurt to pull within three points, 86-83, on Dalen Terry’s finger roll layup with 1:03 left in the third quarter.
But Indiana answered again, boosting the lead to double digits behind strong ball movement and a gritty defense. Nembhard had three steals to help the Pacers finish with 13 while Huff notched five of the Pacers’ eight blocks.
Jevon Carter chipped in 14 points for the Bulls, who finished plus-11 on the glass but committed 18 turnovers.
Chicago trailed 62-57 at the break as the one-two punch of White (13 points) and Buzelis (12) kept the team afloat.
Siakam and Mathurin scored 14 points apiece for the Pacers, who benefited from a 28-18 edge in points in the paint.
After struggling to 4-of-14 shooting to open the half, Indiana finished 21 for 31.
Bulls reserve forward Zach Collins contributed eight points and six rebounds in 20:34 in his season debut. Collins missed the first 21 games after fracturing his left wrist in the exhibition finale in October.
Isaac Okoro (back), Kevin Huerter (adductor), Tre Jones (ankle) and Jalen Smith (hamstring) remained out for Chicago.
Indiana has won seven of the past 11 matchups against the Bulls and clinched at least a split of the season series after edging Chicago on Siakam’s last-second jumper on Saturday.
