CHICAGO — The Indiana Pacers have opened the 2020-21 season with two straight wins. They did work on the Knicks in their opener. Then pulled up to the United Center on the West side of the Chicago and thrashed the Bulls 125-106. The score was definitely not indicative of the beat down they gave them.
Indiana had three players score at least 22 points. TJ Warren drove the ride with 23 points with both Domantas Sabonis and Victor Oladipo dropping off 22 apiece. Malcolm Brogdon had 18 points and Doug McDermott finished with 12.
The Pacers went on a 21-0 run in the second quarter to put the Blue and Gold up 66-56 at the break.
I’m not sure what boyz talked about in the locker room at halftime but whatever it was it had everyone motivated to get this one over ASAP. They came out of the break and went on an 18-0 run to put the Bulls in a deep enough hole for them to cruise.
Between the second and third quarters the Pacers outscored the Bulls 72-43. That’s NUTS!!! The key to the Pacers success on Saturday night was their ability to share the basketball. They finished with 34 assists while shooting the lights out of the gym.
They shot at darn near 60 percent from the field in the first half and by the 5 minute mark of the third quarter they were shooting 62 percent from the field! Incredible!!! They completed the game shooting 56 percent. Chicago had no answer for the Pacers fire power.
With 5 minutes remaining in the game Sabonis made his exit with a mean triple double. He had 22 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds.
As the Pacers attempted to take their feet off of the gas down the stretch with just a few minutes to play the Bulls went on a 15-2 run to get to within 11 points. That’s when Nate Bjorkgren put the horses back in for a couple of minutes to keep from blowing a great night.
Up next Boston at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Sunday for their first back to back of the season.
