Pooh
12-14-2003, 08:29 AM
By Johnnie Clay - Pacers Insider.
December 14, 2003 - 4:45am
Every now and then, great teams hit a bump in the road. Hopefully for the Indiana Pacers, this was their "bump". Playing what could've been one of their worst games of the season, the Pacers were thumped by the Chicago Bulls last night 86-75.
Ron Artest scored 23 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists, while Jermaine O'Neal added 19 for the Pacers, but they simple couldn't stop the Bulls who had five players in double-figures for the night. Jamal Crawford and Kirk Hinrich led the Bulls with 18 points each.
"It's disappointing because we had been gaining momentum and doing good things," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "We took a step back in terms of our being able to sustain intensity."
Indiana led 46-40 at halftime, but Chicago opened the third period with a 21-3 run to build a 61-49 cushion. Crawford's 3-pointer capped the spurt with 5:17 left.
"We try not to let it happen, but the third quarter, which has usually been a strong quarter for us, really got away from us today," Pacers guard Reggie Miller said.
In the third quarter alone, the Pacers were outscored 32-14, that ended up being the huge difference this evening.
Chicago shot just 38 percent (33-86) as compaired to the Pacers 42% (33-79) but outrebounded Indiana, 53-39. Another glaring stat was the Pacers going 0-11 from three-point range, something unheard of considering the three-point mastery of Pacers guard Reggie Miller.
The loss puts the Pacers at (18-6), keeping them a game ahead of New Orleans atop the Central Division. They now have a day off to regroup and prepare for their second meeting with rookie sensation LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers Monday night in Indiana.
The Pacers defeated the Cavs 91-90 last month at Conseco Fieldhouse, they hope to put this disaster of last nights' game behind them and get back on the winning track.
Gametime Monday night is at 7pm (EST)
December 14, 2003 - 4:45am
Every now and then, great teams hit a bump in the road. Hopefully for the Indiana Pacers, this was their "bump". Playing what could've been one of their worst games of the season, the Pacers were thumped by the Chicago Bulls last night 86-75.
Ron Artest scored 23 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists, while Jermaine O'Neal added 19 for the Pacers, but they simple couldn't stop the Bulls who had five players in double-figures for the night. Jamal Crawford and Kirk Hinrich led the Bulls with 18 points each.
"It's disappointing because we had been gaining momentum and doing good things," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "We took a step back in terms of our being able to sustain intensity."
Indiana led 46-40 at halftime, but Chicago opened the third period with a 21-3 run to build a 61-49 cushion. Crawford's 3-pointer capped the spurt with 5:17 left.
"We try not to let it happen, but the third quarter, which has usually been a strong quarter for us, really got away from us today," Pacers guard Reggie Miller said.
In the third quarter alone, the Pacers were outscored 32-14, that ended up being the huge difference this evening.
Chicago shot just 38 percent (33-86) as compaired to the Pacers 42% (33-79) but outrebounded Indiana, 53-39. Another glaring stat was the Pacers going 0-11 from three-point range, something unheard of considering the three-point mastery of Pacers guard Reggie Miller.
The loss puts the Pacers at (18-6), keeping them a game ahead of New Orleans atop the Central Division. They now have a day off to regroup and prepare for their second meeting with rookie sensation LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers Monday night in Indiana.
The Pacers defeated the Cavs 91-90 last month at Conseco Fieldhouse, they hope to put this disaster of last nights' game behind them and get back on the winning track.
Gametime Monday night is at 7pm (EST)