Rush scores 22 to lead Pacers past Bulls
INDIANAPOLIS -- Kareem Rush scored 22 points to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 117-102 win over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night in a wild game that featured five technical fouls and two ejections.
Jamaal Tinsley added 18 points and eight assists for Indiana in first home game since he was shot at, but unhurt, early Sunday morning in downtown Indianapolis. He was booed by the home fans in pregame introductions for being in his third late-night incident in about 14 months, but they cheered him for most of the game.
Ben Gordon led Chicago with 18 points, but he shot just 7-for-21 from the field.
The second quarter was an adventure.
Indiana coach Jim O'Brien was called for a technical foul with the Pacers trailing 38-24. Indiana responded with an 11-1 run.
The Bulls were leading 41-36 with 3:51 left in the second quarter when Chicago forward Tyrus Thomas took exception to a hard foul by Indiana center Troy Murphy and responded by shoving him in the face. Murphy swung back, and players from both teams intervened before things escalated.
Indiana responded again to take a 53-52 lead at halftime.
The Bulls led 58-56 in the third quarter before the Pacers went on a 15-2 run that included five points from both Tinsley and Rush to give Indiana a 71-60 lead with 7:28 left in the quarter.
The Pacers outscored the Bulls 40-25 in the quarter to lead 93-77 at the end of the period.
The Pacers shot 56 percent from the field.
The Bulls entered the game ranked eighth in the league in scoring defense, but they allowed their highest point total of the season.