Down 39-15 after the first quarter, it appeared to be a wrap for the Indiana Pacers. They had no fight in the opening quarter against the Chicago Bulls, shooting 5-18 with seven turnovers, an atrocious start for a team that has specialized in them this season. Four more shots to open the second quarter did well to temper those expectations further, even as Chris Duarte knocked in a pair of threes to cut the lead to 20.
Duarte scored his eighth point towards the midway point of the quarter, cutting the lead to 18 as the starters returned.