Bulls' Disaster Continues as Tanking Pacers Complete Season Sweep, 145-126

The Chicago Bulls nearly shot 50.0 percent from the field, finished with seven players in double figures, out-rebounded the Pacers by 10, and got to the free-throw line for 26 attempts. Typically, that's a recipe for success, but don't put anything past this Bulls squad!

The Indiana Pacers were in complete control from the second quarter on, dominating a Bulls defense that looked downright disinterested in the 145-126 victory. Six more games to go before Arutras Karnisovas may or may not sit down with the media!

Pacers Sweep the Bulls

For the first time since the 2019-20 season, the Indiana Pacers have swept the Chicago Bulls. That's right, folks, four of the Pacers' 18 wins this season came against their central division rival.

Sure, the Bulls likely didn't come into this one caring much about the outcome. The fact that Mac McClung and Yuk Kawamura were clocking meaningful minutes speaks to just that. But this is still a pretty major indictment of the front office and everything they have built.

Think about it: Three of these games were played with every intention of winning. The same can be said about the majority of their games against the NBA's bottom feeders. Yet, as things currently stand, they hold just a 4-9 record against the worst five teams in the NBA. This includes a 2-7 record against the three teams below them in the East.

Again, while these losses may be in the team's best interest, this wasn't on purpose. The Bulls have repeatedly touted competitive integrity and seemed to hold themselves to a higher standard than these squads. Well, not only did these outright tankers beat them, but they are now likely on their way to an even better pick in a stacked 2026 draft.

First Half Disaster

To put into perspective just how many points the Chicago Bulls gave up in the first half, consider this: The Boston Celtics dropped 53 points in the first quarter alone against the Miami Heat ... and they still didn't finish with as many first-half points as the Indiana Pacers.

Believe it or not, the first quarter was competitive. Was there any defense played? Not particularly, as even the combined 12 turnovers were more a result of general sloppiness than defensive execution. But at least each team took advantage! They both shot upwards of 60.0 percent from the field and worked their way into the paint with ease. While Indiana did hold a 39-33 lead, it was a tight enough first 12 minutes to make us think these two tanking squads were in for an entertaining high-scoring battle.

Only one of those descriptors proved true. The points kept coming, but the entertainment factor frayed fast. While Chicago posted another 33 points in the second quarter, the Pacers dominated with 44 points in the frame behind eight made threes. The Bulls' defense was completely lost, as the Pacers kept the ball moving and dished 14 assists on 16 made field goals in the quarter.

The Bulls didn't just look broken defensively, but they looked completely disinterested. Indiana would walk into the half with a staggering 83 points on the board. This marks the second-most points the Bulls have ever given up in a first half (h/t Will Gottlieb). To be clear, the Bulls were still only down 17 points, which is a gap we have seen plenty of teams close this season. But I'm not sure anyone in the arena – or anyone on the Bulls bench – expected this one to be a game again.

Fastbreak & Turnovers

Without their offensive engine, this ragtag Bulls lineup was a complete mess. The Pacers were able to build an insurmountable advantage thanks largely to the Bulls' self-inflicted wounds. They coughed up the ball a total of 20 times, which led to 32 points for Indiana. The Pacers scored 26 of those points in the first half alone. As for Chicago, they managed a mere 13 points off Indiana's 13 mistakes.

Indiana was also beating the Bulls at their own game in the open floor. They were pushing the tempo and repeatedly getting ahead of the defense in transition. It led to 29 fastbreak buckets. All things considered, it was shocking how well they clicked for a team with seven players on the injury report and multiple two-way players suiting up.

Speaking of which, they walked off the floor with 49 assists on their 58 made field goals. This meant they were one shy of their franchise record, as well as one shy of reaching the 50-assist threshold for only the 13th time in NBA history, per Stathead. The last time we saw it was on January 5, 2024, interestingly enough, by Indiana.

Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us on X for the latest news