Thomas ejected for first-half tussle
INDIANAPOLIS -- Tyrus Thomas got off to a great start against the Pacers on Wednesday, scoring 8 points in 9 minutes of action. But he let an act of aggression take him out of the game.
The trouble occurred with 3:51 remaining in the first half. Thomas caught an errant Luol Deng shot under the basket and was fouled across the arms by Indiana's Troy Murphy.
While Thomas was being fouled, he swung his elbows in an attempt to free the ball. There wasn't any obvious contact on the television replays, but the action seemed to annoy Murphy. The Indiana forward shoved Thomas to the floor and pushed him again in the chest when Thomas got to his feet.
Thomas retaliated with an open-handed shove to the face, which doesn't seem likely to earn a suspension. Asked whether he'd be surprised if Thomas was suspended, Bulls coach Scott Skiles answered no.
"You don't think before you act sometimes," Thomas said. "There's no hard feelings with Troy. Nothing personal, not on my end anyway. It's just basketball. In football, they push and shove every play, but nobody says nothing."
Murphy left the arena quickly and did not speak to reporters. Both players were given technical fouls for the altercation. Murphy's was his second of the night.
Smith out of balance: Veteran Joe Smith has been a positive addition to the Bulls' starting lineup, but he's added little to the finishing kick.
In his first four games as a starter, prior to Wednesday's loss in Indiana, Smith produced a combined 38 points and 24 rebounds in the first half, compared to 8 points and 2 rebounds in the second half.
His playing time also reflected that disparity: He logged 75 minutes before halftime and 26 after.
"I'm probably playing him too much in the first half," coach Scott Skiles said. "I have to get that worked out, so I can have him some at the end of games."
Smith had better balance against the Pacers, scoring 8 points in each half.
"What's happened in some of these games, I've played him 18, 19 minutes in the first half," Skiles added. "Then you sit down the whole halftime and it's difficult for a guy to get it wound up again. Then if we don't start quickly in the third quarter, I tend to go to the bench. I've got to do a better job of trying to help him manage that."
Bull horns: Indiana set season-highs for a Bulls' opponent in points (117), field-goal percentage (.557) and 3-point baskets (11). ... Six different players hit 3-point baskets for the Pacers. … Center Ben Wallace sat for the final 18 minutes as the Bulls struggled to find an effective lineup.