Bulls use a stout defensive effort to cruise to a 125-99 win over high-powered Pacers

CHICAGO (670 The Score) – The Bulls responded to arguably their worst performance of the season with one of their best.

Chicago rolled to a 125-99 win against the visiting Indiana Pacers on Wednesday at the United Center, where the Bulls had lost 107-105 to the lowly Wizards just two days prior. Against the Pacers, the Bulls shot 50% and posted 28 assists against just eight turnovers. Most impressively, the Bulls held the high-powered Pacers – who have the NBA’s second-ranked offense – to fewer than 100 points for the first time all season.

“We really were very connected defensively,” coach Billy Donovan said. “There was really good communication. I thought we were on point when we needed to switch, and we were on point when we needed to stay in coverages and stay with our man. And the only way that happens in through communication. I really thought that the way they helped each other was really important.”

Indiana shot just 40% overall, and the Bulls held Pacers star point guard Tyrese Haliburton to 13 points on 4-of-15 shooting. Star forward Pascal Siakam also struggled, scoring 14 points on 2-of-7 shooting while initially being defended by smaller Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu.

Indiana was on the final leg of a five-game road trip, with the past three contests having coming on the West Coast.

“They seemed a little tired, but we played well,” Bulls wing Alex Caruso said. “We covered for each other, didn’t have any of those lapses where we gave out a slip-out layup or somebody forgot to rotate or we didn’t battle for the rebound. I just feel for the most part, other than two minutes to start the third quarter, we were pretty consistent.”

The Bulls’ defense had been playing poorly for a couple weeks – prior to Monday, the Bulls had the third-worst defense in the NBA in an eight-game stretch – so their performance Wednesday was a welcome sight. So, how do they get to a high level on that end?

“Doing what we did tonight,” Caruso said. “Being consistent with our effort, our discipline, knowing the assignments, for the most part keeping guys off the free-throw line. From there, if we can do that consistently, we’re a good defensive team.”

The Bulls controlled the game almost the entire night, as they took the lead with 2:22 remaining in the first quarter and never trailed again. They were at their best in the second quarter, when they outscored the Pacers by a 37-20 margin and built a 23-point lead late in the frame.

The Bulls relied on a well-balanced scoring effort, with DeMar DeRozan’s 27 points leading six players in double figures. The Bulls’ center tandem dominated as well, with Nikola Vucevic posting 22 points and 12 rebounds and Andre Drummond recording 14 points and 11 rebounds off the bench.

The Bulls improved to 35-38 and remained ninth in the East, 1.5 games ahead of the 10th-place Hawks, who will visit the United Center on Monday. The ninth and 10th seeds will square off in a win-or-go-home game in the play-in tournament after the end of the regular season.

“At the end of the day, we know we can do it right,” Caruso said of the Bulls’ defense. “So when it matters, I think that’s most important.”

Cody Westerlund is an editor for 670TheScore.com and covers the Bulls. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund .