Pacers Host Bulls In Divisional Showdown

Paul George will look to lead the Indiana Pacers to a perfect 5-0 record.

The Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers will lock horns for the first time this season Wednesday night, with the Pacers looking to get the better of their division foes and remain undefeated in the process.

Tip-off is scheduled for shortly after 7:00 p.m. ET at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis.

Chicago (1-2, 0-2 road) arrives in the Circle City having dropped two of three games to start the season, including an opening-night soirée with the defending champion Miami Heat and a three-point loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday. Derrick Rose’s return can best be described as more steady than explosive, but that was to be expected after missing all of last season with a knee injury. The Bulls still need a little time to get rid of the rust.

Indiana (4-0, 2-0 home) meanwhile has an eye on the history books. Having recorded a 5-0 start three times (1967-68, 1970-71, 1971-72) during their time in the ABA, the Pacers are looking to go perfect through five games for the first time since joining the NBA in 1976. Beating the Bulls in the process would be the proverbial icing on the cake.

The Pacers moved to 4-0 with a 99-91 win over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday. Paul George scored 31 points including 19 in the second half while Roy Hibbert tallied 10 rebounds and seven blocks as the Pacers came-from-behind to win. Hibbert now has 21 blocks on the season to lead the league.

The Pacers were without Danny Granger, indefinitely out with a calf injury, and George Hill, who missed his second straight game with a sore left hip. He remains day-to-day and could miss Wednesday night’s game against the Bulls.

George’s 31 points marked the second time this season the guard has breached the 30-point mark and third time in four games he has led the Pacers in scoring. His 27.0ppg average is second only to Kevin Durant (29.3ppg) in this young season. The Bulls will need to put a body on 2013’s Most Improved Player if they’re to record a win on Wednesday.

Chicago has gotten solid outings from Carlos Boozer so far this season. The 32-year-old forward is averaging 22.3 points per game to lead the Bulls and with many expecting this to be Boozer’s last year in Chicago, it appears he is looking to go out with a splash. His 8.0 rebounds per game are second only to Joachim Noah (11.9rpg).

Get Chicago Bulls vs. Indiana Pacers odds for 11/06/2013

The moneyline saw Indiana (-150) open as the favorite over Chicago (+130), a result of home court advantage as much as anything else.

The Pacers took three of four meetings between the sides a season ago, including both games that were played in Indianapolis. In the strike-shortened season a year previous, it was the Bulls that took two of three.

The spread opened at 1.5 but has subsequently risen to 3 with most sportsbooks, and could still climb before tip-off.

Indiana (3-1-0 ATS) has covered the spread in both its games against Central Division opponents this season, while Chicago (0-3-0 ATS) has yet to cover the spread period. That being said, the Bulls have covered the spread in four of the last six meetings between the two sides.

The over/under opened at 183.5 but has dropped as low as 182 since the lines opened. The Pacers (1-3-0) have favored the under so far this season, while the Bulls (2-1-0) have favored the over. The total has gone under in eight of the last 11 meetings between these defensive-minded teams.

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