Bulls Look to Keep Rolling as Pacers Struggle on the Road

The Chicago Bulls (31-35) are heating up at the right time, winning two straight games to stay in the mix for an Eastern Conference play-in spot. Meanwhile, the Indiana Pacers (37-30) are eyeing home-court advantage in the first round, but their road struggles continue to hold them back. The two teams meet Monday in Chicago, where Indiana hopes to bounce back from two frustrating losses to Atlanta.

Pacers’ Road Struggles Continue

Indiana has dropped three of its last five games, with all three losses coming on the road. The latest heartbreaking 120-118 loss to Atlanta on Saturday was sealed by a mental lapse from Pascal Siakam, who dunked the ball instead of attempting a game-tying 3-pointer with seconds left.

“They were grabbing me, and I just went. I didn’t think,” Siakam admitted after the game.

Indiana’s playmaking struggles have been evident, especially with Tyrese Haliburton (hip) questionable and backup T.J. McConnell (ankle) uncertain for Monday. The return of Bennedict Mathurin, who dropped 30 points on Atlanta after missing four games, is a bright spot for the Pacers.

Currently sitting fifth in the East, Indiana is one game behind Milwaukee and one ahead of Detroit, with both teams playing on Sunday. If the Pacers want to stay in the top six, they need to fix their road woes fast.

Bulls Turning the Corner in Playoff Chase

For the first time since early January, the Bulls have won back-to-back games, showing improved execution in clutch moments. Chicago rallied from 17 points down against Miami on Saturday to secure a 114-109 win, keeping pace in the play-in race.

Josh Giddey led the way with his third triple-double in a Bulls uniform (26 points, 12 assists, 10 rebounds), while Tre Jones stepped up late, scoring 13 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter.

“We’re trying to compete for that play-in spot right now, trying to climb those standings in the East,” Jones said. “We got two big wins on the road and hope to keep this thing rolling.”

The Bulls, currently the No. 10 seed, lead Philadelphia by four games for the final play-in spot but still have ground to make up on Miami and Orlando to improve their positioning.

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Pacers Seek Season Sweep vs. Bulls

Indiana has dominated Chicago this season, winning all three previous matchups by an average of 13.3 points. They took a 109-100 win in Chicago on Dec. 6, followed by home victories of 16 and 15 points on Jan. 8 and March 2.

Siakam has been a problem for the Bulls, averaging 22.3 points and 6.3 rebounds in the three matchups. Indiana is 6-4 in its last 10 meetings with Chicago and will look to complete the season sweep.

Game Outlook & Prediction

With Haliburton and McConnell questionable, the Pacers’ offense could struggle to keep pace. Meanwhile, the Bulls are riding momentum, and if Giddey continues his strong play alongside DeMar DeRozan and Coby White, Chicago could snap Indiana’s dominance in this matchup.

Prediction: Bulls 112, Pacers 108

Can Indiana secure a much-needed road win, or will Chicago keep its streak alive and inch closer in the East playoff picture? Monday’s matchup could have major postseason implications.