(Sports Network) - The Chicago Bulls try to win three straight games for the
first time this season as they conclude a four-game homestand on Tuesday night
against the Indiana Pacers.
The Bulls lost the opener of the residency by a single point to the Milwaukee
Bucks on Nov. 26, but rebounded to beat the Dallas Mavericks two nights later
before notching a 93-88 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday.
Luol Deng led the Bulls with 25 points, a season-high seven assists and six
rebounds as Chicago won two straight for only the second time this season.
"It seemed like whenever we needed a bucket, he was making big shots. He
played a really well, all-around game," Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich said about
Deng, who has led the Bulls in scoring in two straight and six times total
this season.
Joakim Noah had 12 points and 13 rebounds, while Carlos Boozer added 12 points
and 12 boards. Chicago is 8-0 this season when the two post double-doubles in
the same game.
Richard Hamilton had 15 points for Chicago and left the game briefly in the
third period with a foot injury. An MRI on Sunday revealed a torn plantar
fascia in his left foot, leaving the guard out indefinitely.
The 14-year veteran has averaged 13.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists
over 15 games for the Bulls this season.
The Pacers inch closer to home after going 2-1 on the West Coast portion of
their four-game road trip, which ends tonight in Chicago. Indiana won the
first two games in California over the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento
Kings, but was handed a 103-92 defeat by the Golden State Warriors on
Saturday.
David West scored a game-high 23 points to go with eight rebounds and George
Hill chipped in 19 points in the setback, Indiana's second in its last six
games.
West has scored in double figures in eight straight games, averaging 20.9
points per game over that span while topping 30 points twice.
"He's playing at an All-Star level right now. There's no other way to look at
it. He's carrying the load and he's helping us tremendously on the defensive
end," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said of West.
While West was leading the way, Paul George went scoreless in a game for the
first time since April 13 versus Cleveland. The guard went 0-for-7 from the
floor versus the Warriors, missing all five of his 3-point attempts.
The Bulls won two of three versus the Pacers a season ago and are 8-3 in the
past 11 meetings overall. Indiana has lost 11 of its last 13 trips to Chicago,
splitting two games there last season.
The Sports Network