Shocking Upset! Bulls Fall to Bottom-Team Pacers, Giddey Hits 2000 Assists but Costly Mistake Seals Loss

On January 29, the NBA delivered a shocking game as the Chicago Bulls visited the league’s bottom team, the Indiana Pacers. Despite holding a 14-point lead, the Bulls were gradually overtaken. In the final moments, Nesmith hit a reverse layup with 14 seconds left to secure a 113-110 Pacers victory, completing a season sweep of the Bulls and ending Indiana’s stint at the bottom. Chicago suffered its second consecutive loss.

Stat Leaders

• Bulls: Vucevic 25 pts, 9 reb, 4 ast, 2 blk; Bouzelis 20 pts, 8 reb; Dosunmu 19 pts, 4 reb, 4 ast; White 14 pts, 2 reb, 4 ast; Smith 13 pts, 11 reb, 3 ast; Giddey 10 pts, 4 reb, 7 ast.
• Pacers: Siakam 20 pts, 3 reb, 5 ast; Nembhard 18 pts, 6 reb, 9 ast; Walker 16 pts; Mathurin 15 pts, 8 reb, 1 ast; Nesmith 14 pts, 4 reb, 4 ast; Huff 10 pts, 7 reb, 1 ast, 3 stl.

Milestone
Giddey reached 2000 career assists, becoming the 14th player in NBA history to do so at age 23 or younger.

Game Recap
The Bulls lost their previous home game to the Lakers, and the Pacers lost to the Hawks. Chicago had lost both prior matchups this season. Indiana was missing Haliburton and Toppin, while Chicago was without Jones, Miller, and Collins.

Chicago took the early lead with a 6-0 run and ended the first quarter 33-24 ahead. Both teams scored modestly in the second, with Chicago leading 53-49 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Bulls outscored the Pacers 32-27, entering the fourth quarter 85-76 ahead.

In the final quarter, Chicago expanded to 101-87, but Indiana came back, Giddey scored, and the Pacers went on a 14-2 run to tie 105-105. Vucevic briefly regained the lead with a three-pointer, but Nesmith’s reverse layup with 14 seconds left sealed the dramatic Pacers comeback.

Starting Lineups

• Bulls: Okoro, Bouzelis, Giddey, White, Vucevic
• Pacers: Fuffi, Walker, Siakam, Nesmith, Nembhard