Noah blames himself for Boozer lifting late 3

INDIANAPOLIS — After somehow battling back from a 13-point deficit with two minutes remaining and getting a chance to tie the game, this wasn’t what the Bulls had in mind.

They took possession with 14.1 seconds left trailing 87-84. There was plenty of time for either a quick 2-point basket or a tying 3. But when the ball was thrown in to center Joakim Noah, he wasn’t able to pass it on to the team’s better outside shooters.

Power forward Carlos Boozer ended up being the unlikely candidate to attempt the tying 3-pointer, which appeared to be on line before bouncing off the front rim. It was Boozer’s first 3-point shot attempt since the 2007-08 season. He’s 1-for-9 in his NBA career and the lone make was in ’03-04 when he played for Cleveland.

“I thought it had a chance, but it was a little short,” Boozer said. “I don’t step behind that line too often. I might have to start, just in case.”

Noah said later he didn’t feel comfortable trying a dribble handoff with Derrick Rose because Indiana guard Dahntay Jones was playing him so tight.

“Mental mistake,” Noah said. “I think in that position, you’ve got to call time out.”

Added 3-point specialist Kyle Korver: “We had a lot of options on that play. We didn’t get the look we wanted, probably. We didn’t execute as well as we should have.”

Pacers expected win:

Before Saturday’s game, Pacers coach Frank Vogel continued to think positive. Actually, his thought process left no room to consider his team could lose consecutive home games.

“Our guys were shocked that they did not win on their home court last game,” he said. “They were shocked. They were devastated. We expect to win here. We’re going to win Game 4 and go from there.

“We hit our stride toward the end of the year and we’re getting better by the game. We don’t have wins to show for it, which is frustrating, but we’re one of the best teams in the NBA right now and our future is bright.”

Too little, too late:

Game 4 was the Bulls’ worst 3-point shooting game of the series at 3-for-20. They went 6-for-20 in Game 1.

Kyle Korver knocked down his first 3-pointer of the contest at the 9:44 mark of the fourth quarter. During the next stoppage in play, though, officials reviewed the shot and negated the basket because it came after the shot clock expired. The lost points stretched Indiana’s lead from 11 to 14 points.

“Technology these days,” Korver said. “A couple years ago, we would have won. I’m sure it was the right call if they looked at the replay.”

Space to score:

Pacers coach Frank Vogel complimented the Bulls on how they set up Derrick Rose’s game-winning drive Thursday.

“They spaced very intelligently and he basically drove it at (Kyle) Korver,” Vogel said. “We know we can’t leave Korver because he’s burned us.”

Bull horns:

The Bulls coughed up 11 turnovers in the first half of Game 4, then just 3 more after halftime. ... The normally-reliable Bulls bench has been outscored in three straight games, including 30-17 on Saturday.