• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Pacers look to overcome injuries

Feb 22, 2009 - 1:51 PM Chicago (25-30) at Indiana (23-34) 12:00 p.m. EST

INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- The injury-riddled Indiana Pacers continue their playoff push Sunday when they face the Chicago Bulls.

Three games out of the Eastern Conference's final playoff spot, the Pacers have significant injuries which could make the rest of the season an uphill climb.

Center Jeff Foster has missed the last five games with a sore back, forward Mike Dunleavy Jr. could miss the remainder of the season with a right knee injury, and leading-scorer Danny Granger may be sidelined for up to three weeks with a partial tendon tear in the sole of his right foot.

Despite the rash of injuries, the Pacers still managed to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night, 112-105. Marquis Daniels, who has missed 15 games since December 19 because of a chronic back injury, led the Pacers with 24 points.

Sunday will be the first game for many new faces of the Bulls, who were very active at the trading deadline on Thursday. The Bulls completed deals with the New York Knicks and Sacramento Kings.

The Bulls traded guard Larry Hughes to the Knicks for forward Tim Thomas, guard Anthony Roberson and center Jerome James.

Almost immediately after that trade, the Bulls sent a four-player package including forwards Drew Gooden, Andres Nocioni and Cedric Simmons to Sacramento for guard John Salmons and center Brad Miller. Miller returns to Chicago, where from 2000 to 2002, he averaged 10.8 points and 7.9 rebounds.

On Friday night, the Bulls defeated the Denver Nuggets, 116-99, despite dressing only eight players. Ben Gordon scored a season-high 37 points, and Luol Deng and Tyrus Thomas both had double-doubles.

Derrick Rose collected 23 points and eight assists, leading the Bulls to a 104-91 victory over the Pacers in the first meeting between the teams on November 15.