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Down 2-0, Pacers host Bulls in Game 3

Apr 21, 2011 - 2:39 PM (Sports Network) - Top-seeded Chicago hasn't been all that impressive during its Eastern Conference quarterfinals set with Indiana, but the Bulls have a chance to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the series when the scene shifts to Conseco Fieldhouse tonight.

Chicago has had its hands full with the Pacers but MVP frontrunner Derrick Rose once again carried the load in Game 2 on Monday with 36 points, eight rebounds and six assists en route to a tight 96-90 victory.

Kyle Korver hit a go-ahead three-pointer during the Bulls' game-ending 16-1 run in the series opener, and drained another critical three with 1:04 remaining on Monday after the Pacers cut their deficit to two.

The Bulls, who got 17 points and 16 rebounds from Carlos Boozer, sealed the victory at the free throw line and are carrying a 2-0 series lead into Game 3 tonight in Indianapolis.

Luol Deng chipped in 14 points Chicago, which held a lopsided 57-33 rebounding advantage.

"They are defending well, and we are holding onto the ball," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said of the Pacers. "It is usually a result of too much one-on-one (play), risky passes. Those are two major reasons for turnovers. We have to clean it up."

The Bulls trailed 78-76 midway through the fourth quarter when Rose converted a three-point play that gave Chicago the lead for good.

"We're very happy to be [leading the series], but our play has to be better," Rose, who scored 14 of his game-high 36 in the fourth quarter, said. "I feel like we're going to get things together."

In the first two games of the series, Rose has scored 75 points, good for 37.5 percent of Chicago's offense.

"I'm fine. As long as we win, I'm not worried about that because my teammates are winners," Rose said. "As long as I pass them the ball and tell them to shoot, we're good."

The Pacers stayed close again Monday despite playing the second half without Darren Collison after the up-and-coming point guard suffered a sprained ankle. Danny Granger paced Indiana with 19 points.

Backup point guard A.J. Price ended with 13 points in extended minutes thanks to the injury to Collison, who had eight points in less than 15 minutes of action before turning his ankle on a cameraman's foot under the basket.

"It's discouraging because we feel like we've outplayed them for most of this series," Price said. "With that said, they did what the were supposed to do. They held their home court."

Overall the Pacers' reserves contributed 43 points, 16 rebounds and a dozen assists.

"Our bench has done this all year. No surprise," Pacers mentor Frank Vogel said. "We had nine guys who scored a bucket. Eleven guys contributed. We have 15 guys on our roster who can flat out play. If somebody goes down, we don't usually skip a beat."

That doesn't mean Vogel isn't worried about losing Collison, who has been listed as doubtful for tonight.

"I'm very concerned. [Collison] is a big part of what we do," the Indiana coach said. "You always miss your leader from a cohesiveness standpoint."

The Bulls took three of four from the Pacers in the regular season.

The only other time these rivals have met in the playoffs was in the Eastern Conference finals back in 1997-98, when the Bulls topped the Pacers 4-3, moving on to win their final NBA Championship in the Jordan era.

Game 4 of the best-of-seven set is scheduled for Saturday, also in Indianapolis.