Bulls observations: Career night from Shaq Harrison not enough vs. Pacers

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The Bulls fell to the Pacers for a fourth time this season, falling 108-102 at home. Some observations:

Toughness check

After Wednesday night’s loss to the Timberwolves, Jim Boylen decried the team’s lack of physicality and toughness, especially on the defensive glass. It was the most animated he’s been all season.

So, much of the talk coming into this one centered around how the Bulls would respond. They started fast, sprinting out to a 10-2 lead in the game’s first three minutes. But things leveled after a quick Pacers timeout — by the end of the first quarter Indiana led 29-25. By the half, that advantage had swelled to 62-46. Here, 3-point shooting was the culprit. The Bulls hit just four of their 23 attempts from deep in the first half; the Pacers shot a more sparing (and efficient) 7-for-12. 

The Bulls shifted their approach a bit in the second half — attempting just four 3-pointers in the third quarter — and trimmed a 23-point deficit to as few as six in the fourth. They showed fight in that final period, winning the quarter 30-19, outrebounding the Pacers 16-7 and grinding out every possession, but the Pacers eventually won 108-102.

Though the points in the paint and rebounding battles ended largely even, Domantas Sabonis punished the Bulls on the interior all night to the tune of 24 points and 12 rebounds on 10-for-14 shooting. That’s hit eighth double-double in a row. He’s really, really good.

The Bulls missed Zach LaVine

The Bulls struggled to find consistent offense without Zach LaVine, who missed his third straight game tonight. Coby White submitted his ninth double-digit scoring output in a row (and 13th in last 14 games), finishing with 26 points and six assists on 10-for-21 shooting. Shaq Harrison dropped a career-high 25. Add in Denzel Valentine’s 13, and those were the only Bulls to eclipse ten points.

Uninspiring, specifically, was Lauri Markkanen’s shooting performance. In his second game back from a pelvis injury that had sidelined him since Jan. 24, Markkanen finished with three points on 1-for-10 shooting (0-for-5 from deep) and five rebounds in 22 minutes. Wendell Carter Jr. (8 points, 6 rebounds, 2-4 FG, 4 turnovers and 5 fouls in 26 minutes) and Otto Porter Jr. (8 points, 4-9 FG in 19 minutes) both appear to still be finding their footing, as well.

As a team, the Bulls shot just 40.6% from the field and an alarming 18-for-33 at the rim. Entering play, the Pacers owned the fourth-highest rated defense in the NBA since the All-Star break. They looked the part.

A mad Shaq Harrison dash

Harrison’s night deserves more love than a passing mention. He tallied eight in the fourth and played his trademark brand of swarming defense throughout, finishing with two steals and two blocks. In his 34 minutes, he brought the energy — especially late, as the Bulls attempted to mount an improbable comeback.

After going 5-for-6 from deep in this one, Harrison is shooting 9-for-11 from 3 in his last four games. Credit him for staying ready no matter the situation, even if this career night comes in the context of another familiar loss amid a doldomic season.

Break out the brooms

So much for picking up a central division win. With the victory, the Pacers sweep the season series with the Bulls, with three of their four victories coming by double-digit margins (this, the final one, should be judged as being worse than the final score). 

Tonight, Indiana again prevailed shorthanded without Malcolm Brogdon or famed Bulls-killer TJ Warren. Third-year reserve Edmond Sumner stepped up in Warren’s stead, scoring all 12 of his points in the first half. Sabonis bruised the Bulls all night, Myles Turner blocked four shots and Victor Oladipo chipped in a respectable 16 points on 5-for-10 — a welcome outing for him, as he’s struggled a bit since returning from the torn quad tendon that sidelined him from January 2019 to January 2020. 

The Bulls’ losing streak against the Pacers stretches to nine. They haven’t beaten the Pacers or Bucks since December 2017. As for this season, the Bulls are 2-12 in their last 14 and 21-42 overall. A grueling 19-game finish awaits.

Next up: A trip to Brooklyn on Sunday.

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