National Basketball Association
Indiana 111, Chicago 94
When: 7:00 PM ET, Saturday, November 5, 2016
Where: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
Officials: #37 Eric Dalen, #23 Jason Phillips, #51 Aaron Smith
Attendance: 17020

INDIANAPOLIS -- Through the regular season's first five games, the Indiana Pacers' defense was the NBA's worst, allowing 115 points per game.

After a 125-107 loss at Milwaukee on Thursday night, the Pacers' spirited Friday practice centered on defense, and it paid off Saturday night.

Jeff Teague scored 21 points to lead six Indiana players in double figures and the Pacers dominated the Chicago Bulls from start to finish in a 111-94 victory.

Indiana (3-3), which improved to 3-0 in Bankers Life Fieldhouse, held an opponent below 100 points for the first time this season.

"We got after it in practice on Friday," Teague, acquired by the Pacers from Atlanta, said. "The film didn't lie. As a group, we played with more energy tonight. I am still adjusting, but we really needed this tonight."

CJ Miles added 20 for Indiana, Myles Turner had 16, Paul George had 13, Thaddeus Young contributed 12 and Aaron Brooks finished with 10. Monta Ellis had eight assists for the Pacers, who shot a season-best 53.5 percent from the field (46 of 86).

Miles' 3-pointer with 7:48 remaining pushed Indiana's advantage to 97-71, prompting a Chicago timeout.

"Being assertive and paying attention to detail was what it was all about tonight," Miles said. "Defensively, it was all about playing harder."

Jimmy Butler and Bobby Portis led Chicago (3-3) with 16 points apiece. The Bulls shot only 43 percent from the field (34 of 79).

The Pacers increased a 19-point halftime lead to 88-64 through three quarters, despite George being ejected with 1:42 left in the third quarter after receiving a technical foul for kicking the ball into the stands.

"I am grateful that my ejection didn't cost us a loss," George said. "I am sure I will be fined. The one thing I really liked about tonight was that we were aggressive on both ends of the floor."

Through 36 minutes, Indiana had scored 24 points as the result of Chicago turnovers.

"We were together, and we showed defensive energy," Indiana coach Nate McMillan said. "We moved the ball well, had a lot of assists and hit the open shot."

"We looked like a tired basketball team right out of the gate," said Chicago coach Fred Hoiberg, whose team played New York on Friday night. "They opened up a 16-point lead, and that's a tough hole to dig yourself out of. Down 19 at the half, it's hard to come back from that."

Teague had a nine-point third quarter, helping Indiana shoot 50 percent from the floor (11 of 22) in the quarter.

Indiana shot a blistering 60.5 percent from the field (26 of 43) during the first 24 minutes in building a 62-43 halftime lead. George had 13 first-half points and Turner added 12. Ellis had seven of the Pacers' 17 assists before halftime.

Doug McDermott came off the bench for 11 first-half points and Butler scored 10 to lead the Bulls.

Chicago made only 14 of 37 shots from the field during the first 24 minutes (37.8 percent).

Indiana scored 16 first-half points as the result of Chicago turnovers.

Dwyane Wade was 0 of 6 from the field and scored only two points before intermission. He finished with four points on 1-of-9 shooting from the field.

"It has to start on the defensive end of the floor," Wade said. "Teams are starting fast against us. We have to do a better job of communicating and paying attention to detail."

The Pacers got 10 first-quarter points from George on perfect 4-of-4 shooting from the floor to grab a 31-15 lead through 12 minutes. A 14-4 run early in the first quarter fueled Indiana's commanding lead after one quarter.

In the first period, the Pacers shot 58.3 percent from the field (14 of 24) and the Bulls shot only 30 percent (6 of 20), including a combined 0 of 5 from Wade and Rondo. Chicago also was guilty of seven first-quarter turnovers, which Indiana converted into nine points.

NOTES: Chicago was without G Michael Carter-Williams (left wrist sprain). ... Indiana was without G Rodney Stuckey (right hamstring strain). ... Chicago was coming off a 117-104 on Friday night loss to New York. ... Indiana was beaten Thursday night at Milwaukee, 125-107. ... The Bulls defeated the Pacers 118-101 on Oct. 29 in Chicago. ... The Pacers are 0-3 on the road, losing by an average margin of 14.7 points. ... Indiana F Paul George entered as the NBA's 12th-leading scorer at 24.3 points and scored 20 points or more in each of the season's first five games. ... Chicago came into Saturday's game ranked second in rebounding (50.2) and second in opponent's rebounds (38.6). ... Indiana came in ranked third in steals (10.2). ... Including the Oct. 29 victory against Indiana, the Bulls entered having beaten the Pacers three consecutive times.
Top Game Performances
 
Chicago   Indiana
Jimmy Butler 16 Scoring Jeff Teague 21
Rajon Rondo 5 Assists Monta Ellis 8
Taj Gibson 10 Rebounds Monta Ellis 7
Jimmy Butler 5 Free Throws Made Myles Turner 6
Isaiah Canaan 2 Steals Monta Ellis 2
Taj Gibson 2 Blocks Myles Turner 4
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Chicago 94 43.0 6-18 20-25 17 40 5 8 18
Indiana 111 53.5 12-26 7-12 27 36 9 8 12
Upcoming Games
  • Indiana will play their next game on the road against Charlotte. The Pacers have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .750 after a loss.
  • Chicago will play their next game at home against Orlando. The Bulls have a W/L % of .667 after a win and .333 after a loss.