INDIANAPOLIS — Chicago's bench was too much for the Indiana Pacers.
Reserve Andres Nocioni scored 20 points to lead a strong effort from the reserves, and the Bulls beat the Pacers 101-89 Saturday night.
The Pacers are hyping Fred Jones as a candidate for the sixth man award, and Austin Croshere and Sarunas Jasikevicius are two of the most accurate long-range shooters in the league. But the Bulls' reserves outscored Indiana's 47-42 in Chicago's third game in four days.
Chicago's starters weren't too bad, either. Tyson Chandler had 15 points and 14 rebounds and Kirk Hinrich added 16 points and seven rebounds as the Bulls handed the Pacers their worst home loss of the season.
"Our bench gave us a big lift, which really helped with all the games we've played recently," Hinrich said.
Chicago's Chris Duhon, who scored nine points off the bench, said the whole team was focused.
"Tonight, we really showed what we're capable of," he said. "We wanted to come out with a strong effort from the beginning, and I thought we kept it at a high level throughout the game."
Stephen Jackson scored 21 points and Croshere added 16 for the Pacers, who lost for the second straight night and the third time in four games.
Indiana's Jamaal Tinsley made a short jumper as time expired in the first half to give the Pacers a 51-50 lead.
Chicago went on a 7-1 run early in the third quarter to take a 59-55 lead. The Pacers tied the game at 61 on a 3-pointer by Croshere, but the Bulls finished the period on a 14-3 run to take a 75-64 lead. The Bulls' largest lead was 18 points with 6:08 left in the fourth quarter.
"I don't think it shows much dignity to make excuses after you get your butts kicked," Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said. "It was like they're everywhere and our feet were stuck in mud."
Indiana forward Jermaine O'Neal struggled in his return after missing three games with a sprained left ankle. He finished with 13 points and nine rebounds, but was just 4-of-11 from the field and 5-of-10 on free throws.
"It was a bad decision, definitely a bad decision to play," he said. "But you get a most helpless feeling sitting on the bench while your team is struggling."
Chicago outrebounded the Pacers 51-35. The Bulls grabbed 14 offensive rebounds for 17 second-chance points.
Chicago coach Scott Skiles said Chandler's effort was his best of the season. Eight of his rebounds came on the offensive end.
"He set screens and got in front of the rim," Skiles said. "He played with more energy on offense. And tonight was very aggressive, unlike earlier in the year."
Indiana shot 3-for-15 and had eight turnovers in the third quarter. The Pacers shot 32 percent in the second half.
"I simply don't know where we are, and that's hard to live with," O'Neal said. "This is the most mind-boggling situation I've ever seen.'
MAGIC 83, KINGS 78 (OT): At Orlando, Fla., Steve Francis had 18 points and nine rebounds, and made four free throws in overtime of Orlando's victory over Sacramento. Francis also made the basket that forced overtime on a layup with 21 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Mike Bibby then dribbled to the baseline and kicked it out to Brad Miller, who missed a long jumper that would've given the Kings the win. Bibby had 17 points and five assists, Miller had 16 points and 11 rebounds and Peja Stojakovic added 14 points and eight boards for Sacramento in his second game back after missing three with a protruding disc in his lower back.
Hedo Turkoglu led the Magic with 22 points, while Dwight Howard had 19 points and 15 rebounds and Stevenson chipped in 13 points. Tony Battie had nine points and 10 rebounds for Orlando.
NETS 103, CELTICS 83: At East Rutherford, N.J., Vince Carter scored 25 points and former Jazzman Jacque Vaughn had a season-high 13 off the bench to help New Jersey beat Boston. Nenad Krstic added 16 points and Scott Padgett scored 13 for New Jersey (22-16), which has won 13 of its last 17 games. Boston (16-24) lost for the sixth time in nine games.
Paul Pierce led Boston with 20 points. A night earlier in Boston, the Celtics shot 51 percent and held off a fourth-quarter Nets rally in a 99-96 win.
HORNETS 109, KNICKS 98: At New York, Chris Paul had 27 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds to lead New Orleans. David West scored 19 points and Desmond Mason added 16 for the Hornets (20-20), who have won five of their last six games. New York (13-26) has lost five straight games. It's the third time this season the Knicks, who were playing their fifth game in seven days, have lost five or more games in a row.
The Knicks were playing their third straight game without Stephon Marbury, who is sidelined with a sprained left shoulder. Antonio Davis also missed the game, serving the second game of his suspension for running into the stands in Wednesday's overtime loss to Chicago.
Channing Frye had 18 points to lead six Knicks in double figures.
BUCKS 101, BOBCATS 91: At Milwaukee, Michael Redd scored 23 of his 35 points in the second half as Milwaukee improved to 6-0 against Charlotte. Redd, who has scored 30 points or more 15 times this season, scored 15 points in the Bucks' 34-point third quarter. Charlotte fell to 4-18 on the road. The injury-depleted Bobcats were without leading scorer Gerald Wallace, who didn't travel with the team after spraining his left knee Friday against Orlando. Primoz Brezec scored 21 points for the Bobcats, who lost for the 11th time in 12 games. Jumaine Jones added 18.