Jimmy Butler blocks Paul George as the Chicago Bulls hold off the Indiana Pacers. AP
CHICAGO – With the final seconds ticking away, they stared each other down one last time, Paul George with the ball, and Jimmy Butler right in front of him.
When George went up for a potential winning shot, Butler was right there for the Chicago Bulls.
Butler scored 17 points and played tough defense on George on Indiana’s final possession, helping the Bulls hold on for a 96-95 victory over the Pacers on Monday (Tuesday Manila time).
“Jimmy made some huge plays for us down the stretch,” Chicago coach Fred Hoiberg said. “Not only the last play, but he made some big baskets.”
Butler stayed right with George and challenged his difficult fadeaway shot that was well short as time expired, sending the Bulls to their third straight win and fourth in five games.
“He’s a hell of a player, a tough guard for anybody in the league,” Butler said. “But he went right, pulled up and I was there to contest and got a piece of the ball.”
Indiana coach Frank Vogel said the Pacers got the final play they wanted.
“I don’t think there was a foul,” he said. “He just made a good defensive play.”
Derrick Rose had 23 points on 9-for-18 shooting for Chicago, but departed with about six minutes remaining after he sprained his left ankle. Doug McDermott scored 11 points.
“My ankle is a little bit sore, but I’m just happy nothing’s tore or broken,” Rose said. “I’ll be all right.”
George had 26 points for Indiana, and Monta Ellis finished with 20 points. C.J. Miles made five 3-pointers on his way to 19 points, and Jordan Hill and Ian Mahinmi each grabbed 12 rebounds.
Indiana had won three straight and six of seven.
“It is my job to help lead this team to a win,” George said. “I failed to do so tonight.”
George was 9 for 20 from the field in his seventh consecutive game with at least 26 points. He also drew a charge on Tony Snell with 1:02 remaining and Indiana down 96-93, giving the Pacers another chance.
Ellis drove inside for a tough leaner on the other side, and Indiana got the ball back with about 24 seconds left after Butler missed for Chicago. But the All-Star clamped down on George to help Chicago hold on.
Indiana played without guards George Hill (upper respiratory infection) and Rodney Stuckey (sprained right ankle), and it took a while for the Pacers to get into the game. Rookie Myles Turner also had surgery Monday to repair a chip fracture in his left thumb, sidelining the center for at least six weeks.
Chicago opened with a 15-2 run and led 31-21 after one. Indiana shot 35 percent (7 for 20) in the first period.
The Pacers trailed by as many as 15 in the third, but Ellis scored eight in the period to help them get within four heading into the fourth.
“We’ve got to learn to build on our leads, but a win’s a win,” Butler said. “I’d rather learn from a win than from a loss.”