{"id":569022,"date":"2026-01-29T18:30:22","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T18:30:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/569022\/"},"modified":"2026-01-29T18:30:22","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T18:30:22","slug":"the-chicago-bulls-get-outpaced-by-the-pacers-113-110","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/569022\/","title":{"rendered":"The Chicago Bulls Get Outpaced By The Pacers: 113-110"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Bulls put up a great fight \u2014 but in the final minutes, they got outpaced by Andrew Nembhard, Pascal Siakam & the Indiana Pacers. <\/p>\n

The Chicago Bulls<\/a> drop a close game to the Indiana Pacers, 113-110<\/a>. <\/p>\n

The Pacer Test<\/p>\n

\"JanCredit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

For the third time this season \u2014
The Pacers outlast the Bulls.<\/p>\n

Coming off a disheartening loss to the Lakers, Chicago came out on fire. Matas Buzelis (20 points, 8 rebounds) came out like a man possessed. Buzelis scored 13 points in eight minutes, while going five of six from the field. He kicked the game off with a putback dunk for Chicago\u2019s first points, and continued to ATTACK the Pacers over and over again. It was another very encouraging showing from him, in a season full of robust displays of his growing skillset. <\/p>\n

The Bulls looked strong in this one. But every time they looked like they would run away with the game, the Pacers battled back. Just like the Pacer Test<\/a>, which we all took in school, this game was a multistage back-and-forth affair, with the Pacers being the team to control the pace at the very end.<\/p>\n

Story continues below.<\/p>\n

More Sports News<\/p>\n

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\"JanCredit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

As mentioned earlier, the Bulls came out ON FIRE.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Buzelis showed off the whole arsenal (for now) to catapult Chicago to a nine-point lead to end the first quarter. Even though the Pacers outscored the Bulls 25-20 in the second quarter, it was still the Bulls who were setting the tone. Chicago ended the first half leading 53-49, controlling the lead for 21:22 of gametime. <\/p>\n

It was nice seeing the Bulls take fewer threes and try to work the ball inside, BANGING down low.
Jalen Smith (13 points, 11 rebounds) played a big part in that. He grabbed eight of his 11 rebounds for the game, in the first half alone, as he and Nikola Vu\u010devi\u0107 (25 points, 9 rebounds) continued their streak of great post-play in the dual-big lineup(s).<\/p>\n

\"\"Stats courtesy of Pivot Fade<\/a><\/p>\n

On Your Mark \u2026 Get Set \u2026 Oh* (No)<\/p>\n

The Bulls came out in the second half, picking up right where they left off.
They outscored the Pacers 32-27 in the third, going on a 21-12 run for the final 6 minutes heading into the fourth. It seemed as though Chicago had finally been able to not only replicate Indiana\u2019s formula but also do it better than them. The team was firing on all cylinders. Chicago even went on a 14-5 run from 10:18-7:14 of the fourth quarter, leading the Pacers 101-87. With only seven minutes remaining in the game, this one seemed all but over. Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard had other plans. <\/p>\n

\"JanCredit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

Siakam dropped in 13 monumental buckets in the final quarter, while Nembhard scored six big points of his own and dished out five assists. Just like previous matchups with other teams (and the Pacers), the Bulls were shown just how important having A GUY is. You can have a team full of good role players, which is Arturas Karnisovas\u2019s philosophy, but there are going to be times when you just need one guy whom the defense cannot do anything with. And that was Pascal.<\/p>\n

The Bulls did their best, and for the entire game, they actually played pretty well and showed great signs of life. In the closing minutes of the game, though, everything fell apart. Blame it on youth; blame it on inexperience; blame it on faulty roster construction, etc. Whatever the case may be, the Bulls keep being shown that they have a lot of work to do, and there must be discussions taking place about the team\u2019s next steps ahead of the February 5th trade deadline next week. <\/p>\n

What\u2019s On Tap Next<\/p>\n

Chicago turns right back around to face the Miami Heat on January 29th.
The game will be played at the United Center. Tip-off will be at 7:00 p.m. C.T.<\/p>\n

They will face off against the Heat three times over the next four games.
It should, and will be a very interesting test for this young team.
See you there, and as always \u2026 See Red.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n