INDIANAPOLIS — Aaron Nesmith delivered a standout performance, scoring a personal best of 27 points, as the Indiana Pacers triumphed over the Chicago Bulls with a score of 127-112 on Sunday evening. Supporting him, Pascal Siakam contributed 20 points to the Pacers’ victory.
Nesmith, who is in his fifth year, returned to the lineup in January after being sidelined for 30 games due to an ankle injury. He impressed by making 6 out of 11 attempts from beyond the arc. His hot hand in the third quarter was crucial, as he accounted for 13 points, including three 3-pointers during that stretch.
Tyrese Haliburton was instrumental for Indiana once again, securing his fifth consecutive double-double with 17 points and 12 assists. The Pacers posted a strong final quarter, outscoring Chicago 32-20, and all five Indiana starters reached double figures in scoring.
Leading the charge for the Bulls was Coby White, who managed to put up 26 points, with 20 of those points coming in the first half. Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis each added 18 points for Chicago.
Takeaways from the game included Chicago’s faltering road performance, as their away record fell to 13-16 despite having more road wins than home victories. Their defensive struggles were evident throughout the game. Meanwhile, the Pacers continued to demonstrate their home dominance, improving to 19-10. Nesmith’s scoring surge adds another dimension to his game, which has been primarily defensive in focus.
A pivotal moment came when Nesmith drained three consecutive 3-pointers, helping Indiana establish their largest lead of the game at 90-79 in the third quarter.
Additionally, the Pacers’ bench played a key role in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Bulls’ reserves 11-4 and extending Indiana’s advantage to 106-96.
Looking ahead, the Bulls are set to host Cleveland on Tuesday, while the Pacers will welcome Houston on the same night.
