Bulls halt three-game skid with 90-85 win over Pacers
CHICAGO -- Guard Dwyane Wade had 21 points and five assists and the Chicago Bulls held on for a 90-85 win over the Indiana Pacers on Monday night.
Forward Nikola Mirotic added a season-high 20 points off the bench for the Bulls. Forward Jimmy Butler contributed 16 points despite going 3 of 12 from the field.
Chicago (15-16) snapped a three-game losing streak and improved to 9-6 on its home court.
Guard Aaron Brooks scored a season-high 19 points off the bench to lead the Pacers. Center Myles Turner had 16 points and eight rebounds.
Indiana (15-17) has lost three games in a row for the first time this season. The Pacers fell to 4-12 on the road.
Both teams traded big shots in the final minute. Pacers forward Paul George hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key to cut the deficit to 86-85 with 45.3 seconds to go. Mirotic responded with a step-back jump shot from just inside the 3-point line to make it 88-85 with 21.2 seconds remaining.
Wade stole a pass from Brooks and sprinted end to end for a dunk to finish the scoring with 1.2 seconds remaining. He raised an arm in celebration as the Pacers retreated to their bench.
Chicago clung to a 63-61 edge entering the fourth quarter. Indiana closed the third quarter on a 12-2 run thanks to a burst of offense from Brooks, who hit a driving layup, a baseline jump shot and a 3-pointer from the left wing as the Bulls struggled to keep pace.
Mirotic scored 14 points off the bench in the first half to help Chicago build a 51-41 lead at the break. The Pacers trailed by as many as 16 points in the first half before pulling closer with a 9-0 run that included back-to-back baskets by guard Jeff Teague.
The Bulls led 28-19 at the end of the first quarter. Guard Rajon Rondo grabbed seven rebounds in his first 12 minutes, including a sequence in which he pulled down three straight offensive boards. Mirotic capitalized on Rondo's flurry of rebounds by draining a 3-pointer from the left corner.
NOTES: Bulls G Michael Carter-Williams returned after missing almost two months because of a sprained left wrist and a bruised left knee. The Bulls posted an 11-16 record without Carter-Williams, who was acquired from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for F Tony Snell before the start of the season. ... Pacers G Rodney Stuckey played six minutes and scored two points on Monday after missing five games because of a sore left hamstring. ... Bulls F Doug McDermott did not play because of a bruised left shin that he sustained Sunday against the San Antonio Spurs. ... Pacers G Monta Ellis missed his eighth straight game because of a sore right groin. Ellis, 31, is averaging 9.7 points and 3.7 assists per game this season.