• Recap
• Bleachers

Nocioni's 20 points lead Bulls past Pacers

Oct 21, 2007 - 3:15 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Andres Nocioni is beginning to feel just fine.

Nocioni scored 20 points as the Chicago Bulls posted a 100-88 preseason victory over the Indiana Pacers on Saturday.

Tyrus Thomas scored 15 points off the bench and Kirk Hinrich added 10 points and eight assists for Chicago, which improved to 3-2 in exhibition play.

It was the best game of the preseason for Nocioni, who looks to be fully recovered from a severely sprained ankle that caused him to miss 29 games near the end of last season. The Argentine returned for the playoffs but was just a shadow of himself as the Bulls were bounced out of the Eastern Conference semifinals by Detroit.

Nocioni connected on 7-of-9 from the floor, including 4-of-5 from 3-point range for the Bulls, who led at the end of each period.

Rookie big men Aaron Gray and Joakim Noah combined for 18 rebounds for Chicago, which shot 49 percent (34-of-69) while blocking six shots.

Shawne Williams scored 22 points - including 5-of-10 from 3-point range - and Mike Dunleavy scored 18 for the Pacers, who shot only 37 percent (29-of-78) and dropped their second preseason contest.