CHICAGO -- Short on manpower and playing in their fourth road game in six days, the Chicago Bulls became easy prey to the hot-shooting Indiana Pacers, who fashioned out a 111-101 victory Monday night at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
The bitter loss ended the Bulls' NBA-tying record 41-game streak of winning games when they score at least 100 points. The defeat also made them relinquish the Central Division lead to the Pacers, who log the same 29-19 record as Chicago but had won all two meetings with the Bulls thus far this season.
Still without superstar Derrick Rose, who is rehabilitating from a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) on his right knee, the Bulls played the Pacers without All-Star center Joakim Noah (plantar faciitis on the right foot) and starting point guard Kirk Hinrich (sore elbow). And while power forward Carlos Boozer suited up, he just returned from a three-game absence with a sore right hamstring.
Banged up and tired, the usually stingy Bulls defense allowed the Pacers to shoot 39 of 74 field goals (52.7 percent), including six for 14 from three-point range (42.9 percent).
And without the 6-foot-11 Noah, the Bulls were manhandled off the boards, 47-35.
David West paced the Pacers with 29 points and nine rebounds while George Hill finished with 22 and six assists. Paul George chipped in 21, 11 rebounds and five dimes.
Reserve Marco Belinelli led the Bulls with 24 points. Nate Robinson filled in for Hinrich with 19 and nine assists. (HDS)
Pacers guard Paul George (left) sizes up Bulls forward Luol Deng at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse Monday night. George scored 21 as the Pacers tripped the Bulls, 111-101.
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