Aaron Nesmith scored a career-high 27 points and the Indiana Pacers notched their fifth win in the last seven games with a 127-112 defeat of the Chicago Bulls on Sunday in Indianapolis.

Nesmith, who came into Sunday’s contest averaging 1.2 made 3-pointers per game, canned 6 of 11 from deep to lead the Pacers on a 19-of-44 shooting effort (43.2 percent) from beyond the arc as a team. With the Indiana defense holding Chicago to 10-of-33 3-point shooting, the long ball helped make the difference in the win.

Nesmith’s 11 attempts matched his career-high, and his six made were one shy of matching his personal best. He went 4 of 7 from 3-point range in the second half to help the Pacers control the latter 24 minutes, 61-45.

Indiana also got three 3-pointers on six attempts from Ben Sheppard, who finished with nine points off the bench.

The Pacers’ reserves played a critical role in a pivotal fourth-quarter run. T.J. McConnell contributed to eight Indiana points scored during a 9-2 spurt near the start of the period, beginning with a converted and-one-opportunity.

McConnell then found Thomas Bryant on a 3-pointer for one of McConnell’s six assists, and set up Obi Toppin for a dunk with another assist. McConnell also scored 11 points in the game as one of six Pacers in double-figures.

That mini-run gave Indiana a cushion that never dipped to fewer than eight points the rest of the way.

With others handling the outside shooting, Pascal Siakam led the Pacers on the interior. He scored 14 of his 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting from inside the arc.

Coby White led Chicago with 26 points, but he managed only six in the second half. Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis each added 18 points. Giddey also grabbed nine rebounds and dished seven assists.

Tyrese Haliburton recorded a double-double with 17 points and 12 assists for Indiana, while Myles Turner chipped in 16 points.

–Field Level Media