Indiana Pacers leave Chicago with win over the Bulls

The Indiana Pacers are now 2-0 on the season.

After a season-opening win over the Knicks, the Indiana Pacers were too much to handle for the Chicago Bulls. They pulled away in a hurry and wound up on the winning side of a 125-106 blowout.

The second unit led a 21-0 run in the second quarter that propelled the Pacers into the lead before the break. T.J. Warren appeared much more comfortable than he did in the team’s first game and made up for his slow start. He finished the night with a team-high 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting.

After a strong 39-point second quarter, Indiana took the lead into the break behind contributions from everyone. Eight of the nine players who appeared in the first half scored at least four points. Myles Turner, who had early foul trouble, was the only starter to not score in the first half but he did show up on the defensive end once again.

The second half began in the same way the first half ended as the Pacers pulled away even more. They scored the first 18 points of the half before Chicago got on the board and the Pacers had a 28-point lead before you could blink.

Domantas Sabonis filled the stat sheet once again and was a difference-maker despite early fouls and turnovers. He notched his first triple-double of the season with 22 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds in 34 minutes. He fouled out midway through the fourth quarter.

Victor Oladipo (22 points and 5-for-5 from deep), Doug McDermott (12 points and eight rebounds), and T.J. McConnell (eight assists) all provided a spark for Indiana as well.

Indiana now shifts focus to an upcoming mini-series with the Celtics, beginning tomorrow night. This will be Indiana’s first back-to-back of the season and it comes against one of the top dogs in the Eastern Conference. Can they keep up the quality play against a much tougher opponent?