David West scored 29 points and George Hill added 22 as the Indiana Pacers held off the Chicago Bulls 111-101 on Monday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
The Bulls whittled a 14-point deficit to 98-94 when Marco Belinelli missed a hanging jumper and coach Tom Thibodeau grew incensed when officials didn’t review the ensuing out-of-bounds call. Replays indicated the ball could’ve gone off Pacers center Roy Hibbert.
Paul George then swished a 3-pointer with 1 minute, 17 seconds left to push the Pacers’ lead back to seven points.
Marco Belinelli’s season-high 24 points led six Bulls in double figures. Taj Gibson added 10 points and 11 rebounds.
The Bulls were again without injured Kirk Hinrich and Joakim Noah but returned Carlos Boozer after he missed three games with a sore right hamstring. Boozer finished with 10 points and five rebounds in 23 minutes.
“It’s feeling better,” Boozer said. “A lot of treatment, a lot more movement.”
The Bulls survived another injury scare when Belinelli crumpled to the floor late in the first quarter after stepping on Orlando Johnson’s foot as Belinelli sank a 3-pointer and drew a foul. Belinelli had to be helped to the bench, returned to complete the four-point play but then the Bulls intentionally fouled to stop the clock and allow Belinelli to retreat to the locker room.
The Pacers have won 14 straight home games and shot 66.7 percent in the first half.
The Central Division showdown is a rescheduled game from a Dec. 26 contest that was postponed due to severe weather.
(source–K.C. Johnson/chicagotribune.com)
