Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan shoots over Indiana Pacers forward Torrey Craig in the first half of the game on Sunday, December 26, 2021, in Chicago.
Zach LaVine scored 32 points on his return after going through NBA health and safety protocols, DeMar DeRozan added 24 points and the Chicago Bulls beat the Indiana Pacers 113-105 on Sunday.
Nikola Vucevic finished with 16 points and 15 rebounds in the Bulls’ third straight win (20-10).
Caris LeVert scored 27 points and Domantas Sabonis finished with 14 points and 16 rebounds after missing a game with a right calf injury, and the Pacers suffered their third straight loss.
Chicago held a comfortable lead for much of the game before Indiana moved closer 108-100 with LeVert’s 3-pointer with 3:19 left. LaVine responded with a shot from mid-range and, after a failure by the Pacers, added another shot to practically sentence the game.
It was LaVine’s first game since December 11. However, he only missed two Bulls games due to three of his games being postponed during his absence.
Rookie Ayo Dosunmu, who also returned from health and safety protocols, came off the bench to score six points in 24 minutes.
Chicago was without starter Lonzo Ball and backups Alfonzo McKinnie and Tony Bradley, who entered protocols Sunday. Ball had been the only player to have participated in all 29 games of the season, as of Sunday.
The Bulls also didn’t have coach Billy Donovan, who entered protocol on Friday. Assistant Chris Fleming took his place.
The Pacers did not have their leading scorer, Malcolm Brogdon (Achilles), or Jeremy Lamb (wrist).