Aaron Nesmith delivered a career-high 27 points, leading the Indiana Pacers to a 127-112 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Sunday night. Pascal Siakam added 20 points as Indiana improved to 34-25, solidifying its position at fifth in the Eastern Conference.
Nesmith, who returned in January after missing 30 games due to an ankle injury, shot 6-of-11 from three-point range. He caught fire in the third quarter, scoring 13 points and helping Indiana take control of the game.
Tyrese Haliburton notched his fifth straight double-double, finishing with 17 points and 12 assists. The Pacers saw all five starters score in double figures while outscoring the Bulls 32-20 in the final period.
Coby White paced Chicago with 26 points, including 20 in the first half. Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis chipped in with 18 points each, but the Bulls (24-37) struggled defensively in the second half.
Indiana’s bench played a crucial role, outscoring Chicago’s reserves 11-4 at the start of the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 106-96. The Pacers’ depth and offensive balance proved too much for the Bulls to overcome.
Chicago’s road record fell to 13-16 despite having more wins away from home than at the United Center. The Bulls have shown they can score in stretches but continue to struggle on the defensive end.
The Pacers shot 55.2% from the field and 43.2% from beyond the arc, while the Bulls managed 50.0% overall but just 30.3% from deep. Indiana’s ability to capitalize on open looks and force key stops down the stretch made the difference.
Haliburton’s playmaking continues to be a stabilizing force for Indiana, as he orchestrated the offense and found teammates in rhythm. His 12 assists helped fuel the Pacers’ efficient scoring night.
Siakam provided steady production, shooting 8-of-14 from the field while also grabbing six rebounds. Myles Turner added 16 points and six rebounds, helping Indiana control the paint.
For Chicago, White’s early scoring burst kept the game close, but Indiana’s defense tightened in the second half. The Bulls struggled to generate offense late, scoring just 20 points in the fourth quarter.
Josh Giddey, who finished with seven assists and nine rebounds, contributed across the board but was unable to spark a late comeback. Buzelis, the rookie forward, continued to show flashes of his scoring ability but had a team-worst minus-24 plus/minus.
