Butler’s pull-up jumper with 3.7 seconds left lifts Bulls past Pacers
Jimmy Butler III made a 10-foot pull-up jumper with 3.7 seconds left, and the Chicago Bulls beat the Indiana Pacers 98-96 to end a 4-game losing streak.
The Pacers had the ball in a tie game with 53 seconds left, but Pau Gasol blocked Myles Turner’s 10-foot step-back jumper, lifting the Bulls’ chance to win from 45% to 47%. It would have put the Pacers ahead. They had the ball down 2 after a timeout, but CJ Miles missed a 29-foot pull-up 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have put them ahead.
During clutch time, the Bulls outscored the Pacers 5-2.
Nikola Mirotic had 28 points (21 on 7 3-pointers) and 10 rebounds off the bench.
For the Pacers, Paul George had 20 points (10 in the paint), 9 rebounds and 4 steals, and Ian Mahinmi added 18 points on 9 for 12 shooting.
The Pacers outscored the Bulls 22-6 off turnovers. They did not make a field goal in the last 3:03. The Pacers outscored the Bulls 33-22 in 13 minutes with Mahinmi, Ellis, Hill, George and Allen on the floor together.