The Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers will meet at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Oct. 6, Thursday for a 2016-2017 NBA Preseason match.
Start Time and Streaming Info
The game starts at 7:00 p.m. ET. It can be viewed live online thru the NBA League Pass.
Preview
Chicago opened their preseason stint with a 93-91 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday at the United Center.
New superstar signings Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo started for head coach Fred Hoiberg as both NBA champion players try to develop chemistry for the upcoming regular season. Wade only played 12 minutes, scoring 6 points on 2-for-3 from the field, including 2-for-2 from the three-point line.
Rondo suited up for 24 minutes, shot only two times and made one for two points. However, he displayed the kind of playmaking Chicago wanted when they signed him in the summer as he dished out seven assists.
Jimmy Butler was in for 15 minutes and scored a team-high 13 points while Doug McDermott led the bench scoring with 13 points as well.
Taj Gibson started at the power forward spot in place of Nikola Mirotic, who had a dismal performance of only two points while going 1-for-7 from the field including a 0-for-3 shooting from beyond the arc.
Newly-acquired Robin Lopez was impressive with a double-double, scoring 11 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in 22 minutes as the starting center.
Meanwhile, the Pacers routed the New Orleans Pelicans, 113-96, at the Smoothie King Center on Tuesday to begin their preseason campaign with a bang.
Resident stars Paul George and Monta Ellis joined newcomers Jeff Teague, Kevin Seraphin, and Thaddeus Young in the head coach Nate McMillan's starting lineup and was dominant all throughout the game even with the presence of the Pelicans' returning big man Anthony Davis.
It was a balance offensive attack for Indiana as Young topscored with 12 points, followed by 11 points from George and 10 points from Teague. Another new acquisition, veteran power forward Al Jefferson, came off the bench and was the game's top-scorer with 14 points.
The Pacers were also able to get double-digit scoring from other bench players such as rookie small forward Georges Niang (12), sophomore point guard Joe Young (12), and veteran playmaker Rodney Stuckey (11).
Prediction
Another big win for the Pacers as their depth will continue to be showcased. Chicago, on the other hand, will continue to develop the chemistry between Wade and Rondo in preparation for the start of the regular season later this month.
