Old friends make selves at home in Bulls' sixth straight loss
Just because Indiana played without potential all-stars Domantas Sabonis and Malcolm Brogdon, this was no holiday in the sun for the Bulls.
Ex-Bulls Justin Holiday, Doug McDermott and JaKarr Sampson combined to score 33 points as the Pacers held off the Bulls 116-105 on Saturday at the United Center, stretching the Bulls' losing streak to six in a row. The Bulls also fell to 1-15 against teams with winning records.
Holiday's younger brother Aaron (19 points, 8 assists) hasn't played for the Bulls, but he could have. He was chosen by Indiana in the 2018 draft with the 23rd pick, one after the Bulls took Chandler Hutchison.
Playing for the second time without starting center Wendell Carter Jr. (sprained right ankle), the Bulls struggled defensively and allowed a whopping 70 points in the paint by Indiana. Pacers center Myles Turner took advantage, producing 27 points and 14 rebounds.
"They drove us. They got a little bit away from the pick and roll stuff and they got us in driving situations," Bulls coach Jim Boylen said. "I thought we were a step slow in the first quarter. It was a game when we were fighting uphill all night and just couldn't get a timely stop and they got big shots when they needed it."
The loss spoiled an impressive offensive night by Zach LaVine, who scored 43 points. LaVine hit 8 of 13 shots from 3-point range and scored 20 consecutive points for the Bulls during a stretch in the second and third quarters.
There were a few times when a LaVine scoring flurry would get the Bulls close. But Indiana inevitably called a time out, settled down and went back to picking apart the Bulls defense.
"It's my job, man. I recognize when we're down we need a scoring outburst," said a downcast LaVine. "I'm just trying to go out there and do my job, help us win. We're just trying to get one, man. We're in a stretch. We're staying together. Obviously, it's frustrating. We've got another one tomorrow (at Detroit). We've got to find a way to dig one out."
Coby White got hot for a while and added 23 points. But Lauri Markkanen, hobbled by a sprained ankle suffered last weekend, couldn't get going and finished with 11 points. After the game, Boylen praised Markkanen for hanging in there on a bad ankle.
"I'm proud of Lauri," Boylen said. "He's doing the best he can, he's fighting through. I'm proud of him. He's not 100 percent. If can give you anything, he'll play. I think that's great growth from him. That's part of what we're building here, you do anything you can to help the team. Even if you're hurting, you still try and he's doing that.
"He hasn't made one excuse, he hasn't pouted, he hasn't asked to come out, he hasn't done anything. He's played through a pretty tough sprain."
As has been his style, Markkanen downplayed the severity of the injury.
"Not when I'm playing; I'm not thinking about it during the game," Markkanen said when asked how much the injury is bothering him. "I'm sure some movements are not as explosive as normal, but it's nothing I would be thinking about during the game. I want to play and help this team and that's what I'm trying to do."
Rookie Daniel Gafford got the first start of his career, but the Bulls' defense clearly isn't the same without Carter. The second-year center is expected to be out 4-6 weeks, so stopping this losing streak will be a challenge.
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Scouting report
Bulls vs. Detroit Pistons, 6 p.m. at Little Caesars Arena
TV: NBCSCH • Radio: WSCR 670-AM
Outlook: The Bulls are going for a four-game season sweep of the Pistons. They won in Detroit 119-107 on Dec. 21 behind 33 points from Zach LaVine. ... The injury-plagued Pistons have been playing without PF Blake Griffin (knee), PG Reggie Jackson (back), PF Markieff Morris (foot) and SG Luke Kennard (knee). ... C Andre Drummond is averaging 17.8 points and a league-best 16.2 rebounds. PG Derrick Rose is averaging 20.5 points against his former team this season. Rookie PF Sekou Doumbouya joined the starting lineup five games ago. ... Detroit lost at home to Cleveland 115-112 on Thursday and have Friday off.
Next: Boston Celtics on Monday 6:30 p.m. at TD Garden
- Mike McGraw