Cutting down on turnovers will be crucial for the visiting Indiana Pacers if they hope to snap their four-game losing streak against the Chicago Bulls on Friday.
The Pacers committed 12 first-half turnovers, and 16 overall, in their 99-90 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday in New York. This followed a game in which they gave the ball away 21 times in a 122-111 defeat to the Toronto Raptors the previous night.
Repeating that recklessness could be a significant problem against the high-octane offense of the Bulls, who excel in the open floor.
Part of the Pacers’ struggles may be attributed to a difficult schedule.
Tyrese Haliburton scored 17 points in Brooklyn, while T.J. McConnell added 14 points off a productive bench, despite Indiana’s challenges.
Both will be key players in the Pacers’ backcourt against Chicago, especially with Andrew Nembhard’s status uncertain after he sat out Wednesday’s loss due to managing left knee tendinitis.
The Bulls, aiming for their third consecutive victory, will be completing the second leg of their own back-to-back set. They cruised to a 139-124 road triumph over the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday.
Ayo Dosunmu recorded his first career triple-double with 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists, while center Nikola Vucevic took advantage of Victor Wembanyama’s absence to amass 39 points on 16-of-22 shooting.
Vucevic’s season-best performance boosted his scoring average for the 2024-25 season to 21.7 points, the second-highest of his 15-year career.
The Bulls never trailed in Texas, with their offense rolling from the moment Zach LaVine hit a three-pointer on the opening possession.
Chicago’s 73-point first half matched their best effort of the season, and their final total was the team’s highest since December 2022.
