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, 2:17 into overtime, pushed the Bulls ahead, 125-123. Pacers All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton missed a 3-point shot just before the final buzzer.
The Bulls ended a two-game slide that followed a three-game winning streak and returned to two games under .500 at 32-34. They still hold on to 9th place in the Eastern Conference, 3.5 games behind the Miami Heat for eighth place and 2.5 ahead of the Atlanta Hawks for 10th place in Thursday’s NBA slate.
“It’s like survival mode comes into play, in a fun way,” DeRozan said. “You enjoy these moments. For me, I just enjoy these moments. I’m not afraid to fail. I’m not afraid to try to make things happen. I want these moments more than anything.
“It always reminds me of my childhood, being a kid and doing the little fake countdown, jumping on the bed, shooting.”
The final 72 seconds of regulation Wednesday 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 in the Indiana. But DeRozan made a free throw and hit a baseline fadeaway jumper with 0.3 seconds remaining to force overtime.
“DeMar is an incredible closer,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. “Give him a lot of credit and respect for that.”
The Bulls were down by two when they put the ball in with 2.4 seconds remaining in regulation.
“I actually interrupted the game,” DeRozan said. “The game for me was to get over the top. But the teams do a great job researching and understanding what we’re going to race. As soon as they recorded the ball, I just found an opening, honestly.
The teams exchanged the lead 12 times in the fourth quarter.
“Our defense just wasn’t good enough,” Turner said. “DeRozan hit some big shots, special player. But overall, I don’t think we were there, just that last part. At this time of year, there are no excuses. You have to find a way to make it happen.
The Bulls’ Alex Caruso scored 23 points and Ayo Dosunmu added 20.
“What a game,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “So many ups and downs. We were on a rebound.
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.
“It’s a gut punch,” Carlisle said. “When you make minor mistakes at the wrong time, it can really bite you. There was a lot.
Pacers reserves TJ McConnell and Jalen Smith scored 16 and 15 points, respectively, 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.
Indiana fell to 37-30, tied with the Philadelphia 76ers for 6th in the East and last out of the playoff spot.
Following
Bulls: Host the LA Clippers on Thursday.
Pacers: Host Brooklyn on Saturday.
