Both the Chicago Bulls and the Indiana Pacers take pride in playing stingy defense, so it was no surprise that it was a low-scoring and tight game from the get-go.
But as soon as the two teams started putting in substitions, the Bulls were able to make an 8-0 run to open up a seven point lead, which they kept building on all through the second quarter.
The Pacers were only able to keep the game even with Roy Hibbert in the game, and he was in foul trouble a good part of the first half, with two fouls in the first quarter and the third a couple of minutes before the break. He only played 12 minutes in the first half.
For the Bulls it was the usual suspects who led the charge with 10 points for Pau Gasol and 12 points for Jimmy Butler, who made the last bucket of the half right at the buzzer for a 47-35 lead.
It spelled trouble for the Pacers, when Roy Hibbert got his first foul of the second half within 20 seconds. He stayed in the game, but to no avail.
Instead frustrations started to show on the Indiana team, who commited a couple of unnecessary fouls, and soon the Bulls were able to take a commanding lead that got as high as 21 points. After three quarters they were ahead by 81-65, They even extended it to 83-66 in the beginning of the fourth quarter.
But then the Bulls hit a scoring drought with 16 missed shots in a row combined with several turnovers. The drought lasted more than seven minutes, during which the Pacers bench made a 20-0 run and got their team ahead 86-83, creating Indiana's first lead since 17-16 in the first quarter. The run was headed by Chris Copeland, who scored 13 points in the fourth quarter on his way to a team high 17 points.
In the last seven minutes of the games neither team held more than a one possession lead. With one minute left in the game, the leading scorer of the night, Chicago's Jmmy Butler hit a three pointer to bring his team ahead 92-90. Although both teams had their chances in the last couple of possessions, that was the final score. Butler ended with 27 points.
Next up for the Chicago Bulls is a home game tomorrow against the Brooklyn Nets, while the Indiana Pacers take on the Miami Heat also at home on the afternoon of New Year's Eve.
