They are the things that the NBA has. Chicago, one of the best teams of the season, hosted a Pacers who had only won one of their last four games. In theory those of Illinois had to continue adding triumphs, but it was not like that; in fact, Indiana destroyed Billy Donovan’s boys until they defeated them by a more than forceful 77-109.
The game was a triumphant ride for Indianapolis. At the end of the first quarter they won by 15 points, at halftime they were at 20, in the third quarter they stretched the rent to 30 … Few – or no one – could expect the Pacers not only to win at United, but also to cancel by complete to the Bulls.
DeMar DeRozan went to 18 points and Zach LaVine to 17 (both with good percentages), but the point is that the set just didn’t work out. The rest of the headlines combined for a total of 10 points… A bad night? Surely. Merit of Indiana? There is also something. Billy Donovan believes that their bad start led them to lose face to the match.
“We missed some shots in good position… As the game started to turn into double-digit differences, we got very, very stagnant. The ball didn’t move well enough and we didn’t generate enough for each other, ”says the Chicago coach.
If the Bulls were disappointed, the game for Indiana was a hit on the table they needed, Domantas Sabonis signed a double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds and Malcolm Brogdon went to 16 points and 7 assists. It was a night when everything worked out for a Pacers who are far from losing the season.
“Beating a team that has great potential and is having a good season is something important for us. We have been trying to figure out how we can play well during the 48 minutes. Our main goal is to play hard together. To be able to do that tonight and win the way we did, is good for our team. That makes us see that when we play in this way, the team works “, says Justin Holiday, author of 14 points (4 of 7 in triples).
Waiting for Vucevic
Chicago hasn’t had Nikola Vucevic in seven games. The Montenegrin center remains in the phase ofcardiovascular testing of health and safety protocols against coronavirus. He is no longer in isolation, but there are still questions about whether he will be able to play Wednesday on the Houston Rockets court. His absence was joined last night by Alex Caruso, who could not play due to a wrist problem that worsened in the last game against the New York Knicks.
(Photograph by Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images)