Pacers Hold Off Bulls, 98-84
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Solomon Hill scored 16 points and Ian Mahinmi had a season-high 14 points to help the Indiana Pacers hold off the Chicago Bulls 98-84 on Friday night.
The Pacers (27-34) have won a season-high four straight to get back into playoff contention.
Short-handed Chicago (39-24) was led by Pau Gasol with 18 points. Rookie Doug McDermott had a season-high 16 as the Bulls' two-game winning streak ended. Chicago started the night one-half game ahead of Cleveland in the Central Division.
But even with little rest on the second game of a back-to-back, the Bulls fought hard.
After rallying from an 11-point third-quarter deficit to tie it at 66, Chicago opened the fourth quarter with two free throws to take a brief 68-66 lead.
The Pacers answered with seven straight points, spurring a 15-6 run that gave them an 83-74 lead with 5:29 left. Chicago couldn't get closer than seven again.
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