Indiana Pacers Storm Back To Beat Chicago Bulls
It was cold in Indianapolis on Wednesday night. And for the first 40 minutes of action inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Pacers looked just as frozen as the sidewalks outside. Sitting at the very bottom of the NBA standings with a rough 12-36 record, playing without Tyrese Haliburton, and staring down a 14-point deficit midway through the fourth quarter, this had all the makings of another “burn the tape” performance. The fans were quiet. The energy was low.
Then, basketball happened. In a sequence that defied the logic of their season so far, Indiana flipped the script entirely, erasing a double-digit lead and stunning the Chicago Bulls 113-110. It wasn’t pretty, and it certainly wasn’t easy, but for a team desperate for something to feel good about, it was perfect.
The Fourth Quarter Rally That Saved the Night
If you turned the game off when Chicago went up 101-87 with just over seven minutes left, nobody would blame you. The Bulls, fighting for their playoff lives, looked comfortable. But the Pacers suddenly found a gear they haven’t shown much this year.
It started on the defensive end. Indiana clamped down, sparking a furious 18-4 run that turned a blowout into a brawl. Pascal Siakam, who had a relatively quiet evening through three quarters, decided it was time to earn his paycheck. He dropped 13 of his 20 points in the final frame, aggressively attacking the rim and getting to the line.
When Andrew Nembhard hit a step-back jumper with 40 seconds left to put Indiana up 109-107, the arena, previously dormant, finally erupted. It was the sound of a fanbase realizing they weren’t just watching a lottery team—they were watching a fight.
Aaron Nesmith Plays Hero Ball
While Siakam provided the steady hand, it was Nesmith who provided the fireworks. After Nikola Vucevic drained a three to give the Bulls the lead back with 33 seconds left, the pressure was squarely on Indiana. Nesmith didn’t blink. He drove into the teeth of the defense and finished a tough reverse layup with 13.9 seconds on the clock, putting the Pacers up by one.
But he wasn’t done. On the ensuing possession, Coby White drove the lane looking for the win. He thought he had a lane. He was wrong. Nesmith rotated over and met White at the summit, blocking the shot with 2.9 seconds remaining. It was a game-saving defensive play that summed up Nesmith’s night: 14 points, high energy, and the kind of hustle that doesn’t always show up in the box score but wins ballgames.
Johnny Furphy cleaned up the rebound, sank two ice-cold free throws, and Nembhard sealed it with a steal at the buzzer. Ballgame.
Young Guns Step Up For the Pacers
One of the bright spots in a dark season has been the development of the young core, and they were on full display against Chicago. The Pacers’ lottery picks, Bennedict Mathurin and Jarace Walker, combined for 31 points. Walker, in particular, continues to look like the player Indiana hoped they drafted, scoring 16 points on efficient 6-of-8 shooting. He’s now hit double figures in four straight games, providing a glimmer of hope for the future.
Mathurin, still shaking off the rust from a thumb injury that cost him 11 games, grinded out 15 points and 8 rebounds. It wasn’t his most efficient night, but his aggression kept the Bulls’ defense honest.
Context Matters For Indiana
This win doesn’t fix everything. The Pacers are still deep in the lottery. They are still missing their franchise cornerstone in Haliburton. But context matters. This team just beat the defending champion Thunder on Friday, and now they’ve swept the season series against the Bulls 3-0. For a “bad” team, they seem to have Chicago’s number completely dialed in.
It’s a strange season in Indy. They might be at the bottom of the standings, but on nights like this, you can see the vision. It might be cold outside, but the Pacers kept things plenty warm inside the Fieldhouse.
