CHICAGO — Bulls guard Jimmy Butler blocked Indiana Pacers forward Paul George’s game-winning shot attempt just before time expired, and Chicago pulled out a 96-95 victory at the United Center on Monday.
Butler, who scored 17 points, gave the Bulls a 96-93 lead with 15-foot jumper with 1:23 remaining. The Pacers pulled within a point when guard Monta Ellis scored with 45 seconds remaining. Chicago failed to score on its next possession, giving Indiana a final chance to take the lead.
Bulls guard Derrick Rose scored a team-high 23 points, but he missed the final stretch of the fourth quarter due to a left ankle injury. He sustained the injury with 7:01 remaining and did not return. He also had a team-high six assists.
The Bulls (7-3) scored the game’s first basket and never trailed. They led by as many as 15 points, but they struggled to put away the Pacers because of their free-throw shooting. They were 20-for-32 from the line.
George missed his final shot, but he largely carried the Pacers (6-5). He scored a game-high 26 points on 9-of-20 shooting, making four of five 3-point attempts. Ellis (20 points) and forward C.J. Miles (19 points) also contributed for Indiana.
The Pacers had a three-game winning streak snapped. The Bulls extended their winning streak to three games.
Bulls forward Doug McDermott contributed 11 points off the bench. He started the previous four games.
NOTES: Pacers C Myles Turner is expected to miss six weeks after undergoing successful surgery to repair a chip fracture in his left thumb on Monday afternoon. He suffered the injury against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday. … G George Hill (upper respiratory infection) and G Rodney Stuckey (sprained right ankle) were unavailable for the Pacers. … Bulls F Mike Dunleavy missed his 10th consecutive game due to a back injury. … F Tony Snell replaced F Doug McDermott in the Bulls’ startling lineup. McDermott had started the previous four games for the Bulls. “Just kind of mixing our lineups up a little bit again, just trying to find the best five guys to go out there and get us off to a good start,” Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said.