INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — DeMar DeRozan scored 46 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer in overtime, to help the Chicago Bulls survive the Indiana Pacers 132-129 on Wednesday night.
The All-Star forward’s lone 3-pointer at 2:17 of overtime put the Bulls ahead 127-123. Pacers All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton missed a 3-point shot just before the final buzzer.
The final 72 seconds of regulation were particularly entertaining as Pacers center Myles Turner made a 3-pointer on consecutive possessions with 1:12 and 56.7 seconds left for a 3-point lead. But DeRozan made a free throw and hit a baseline fadeaway jumper with 0.3 seconds remaining to force overtime.
The teams exchanged the lead 12 times in the fourth.
The Bulls’ Alex Caruso scored 23 and Ayo Dosunmu 20.
Turner led the Pacers with 27 points and five 3-pointers. Pascal Siakam scored 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Haliburton had 17 points and 14 assists.
Pacers reserves TJ McConnell and Jalen Smith scored 16 and 15 as Indiana’s bench held a 47-16 advantage.
The Bulls outscored the Pacers 35-23 in the third quarter to take a 93-85 lead. Caruso contributed 14 points with four 3-pointers down the stretch. DeRozan added nine points.
The Pacers bench provided 11 points in a 15-1 run to build an eight-point lead midway through the second quarter. The advantage reached 11 before the Bulls closed the gap to 62-58 at the break.
FOLLOWING
Bulls: Host the LA Clippers on Thursday.
Pacers: Host Brooklyn on Saturday.
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