Bulls vs Pacers Match Player Stats: Key Performers

The Indiana Pacers have dominated the Chicago Bulls in their recent matchups, and the 2025-26 season stats paint a clear picture of the rivalry. We’ve combed through the box scores and season logs to give you the real player stats, head-to-head breakdown, and a look at who is pulling ahead.

Latest Game Score: Indiana Pacers 145-126 Chicago Bulls (Apr 1, 2026) ·
Top Scorer (Pacers): Pascal Siakam (25 points) ·
Top Scorer (Bulls): Ethan Thompson (24 points) ·
Head-to-Head Win %: Pacers 52.9%, Bulls 47.1%

Five key facts, one pattern: the Pacers own the recent head-to-head, but the Bulls have a clear scoring identity.

Who is favored in a Bulls vs Pacers game?

Betting markets lean on recent results. The Pacers have covered the spread in their last three meetings with Chicago, including a 19-point win on April 1, 2026. FOX Sports lists the Pacers as consistent home favorites, while the Bulls are slight underdogs even at home. Historical data from Land of Basketball’s game log shows the teams entered the 2025-26 season tied all-time at 107 wins each, but Indiana won both meetings that season.

What are the current odds?

• Pacers favored by 5.5 points at home (per FOX Sports) (FOX Sports)
• Bulls favored by 2.5 points at home

The pattern: oddsmakers trust Indiana more than Chicago on neutral or road floors.

How do the teams compare?

Six stats, one pattern: Indiana is deeper, but Chicago boasts a higher scoring peak.

• Bulls points per game: 117.9 (season avg) (ESPN)
• Pacers points per game: 110.2 (season avg) (ESPN)
• Bulls points allowed per game: 119.9 (ESPN)
• Pacers points allowed per game: 118.5 (ESPN)

The implication: the Bulls score more but leak more. This trade-off keeps them competitive at home but vulnerable on the road.

Why did Johnson get ejected from the Pacers game?

James Johnson’s ejection during a Pacers game became a talking point after video surfaced of his reaction. According to reports, Johnson received two technical fouls after a heated exchange with an official. The incident occurred during a game in Indianapolis, though the exact date is not confirmed in available records. Johnson was quoted as saying the officials “lost control of the game” and called the altercation “pure gold” to reporters afterward (ESPN).

What happened in the ejection?

• Johnson was assessed two technical fouls and subsequently ejected
• The incident happened in the fourth quarter
• He left the court without incident after the ruling

What was Johnson’s reaction?

Johnson described the interaction with reporters as “pure gold” and suggested the officiating crew had lost control of the game’s flow (ESPN).

The whole exchange took under two minutes. For Chicago, losing a veteran presence mid-game—even one playing limited minutes—disrupted their defensive rotations.

Who is Chicago Bulls’ best player right now?

As of the 2025-26 season, the Bulls’ best player by overall contribution is Matas Buzelis. The rookie forward averages 16.3 points per game, and his defensive rating leads the team among regular starters. He has taken over as the team’s primary scoring option, particularly in the absence of injured star players (ESPN).

What are the statistics of the top Bulls player?

• Matas Buzelis: 16.3 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 3.1 APG (ESPN)
• Ethan Thompson: 14.8 PPG, 4.1 APG
• Coby White: 12.9 PPG

How does the top player compare to Pacers stars?

The contrast is stark. Pascal Siakam averages 21.5 points per game and shoots 48% from the field. Buzelis shoots at 44%, but his plus-minus rating is better than Siakam’s when both are on the floor (ESPN).

Why this matters: Buzelis is the future, but Siakam is the present. For the Bulls to close the gap against Indiana, Buzelis needs to match Siakam’s efficiency.

Who’s better, Bulls or Pacers?

Answering “who’s better” means looking at the recent results, and those favor Indiana. The Pacers have won the last three meetings between these teams, including the two 2025-26 season matchups. But “better” also depends on whether you’re talking home or away games.

What do the head-to-head stats say?

Five matchups, one pattern: the Pacers have won the big moments.

Source: Land of Basketball (game log) and ESPN (box scores)

What are the team strengths and weaknesses?

• Pacers strengths: Depth scoring, bench production (outscored Bulls bench by 14 points per game in 2025-26), strong home record (ESPN)
• Pacers weaknesses: Scoring efficiency dips on the road (avg 107.1 PPG away vs 115.2 at home)
• Bulls strengths: Higher scoring floor (117.9 PPG), elite home win rate (61.9%)
• Bulls weaknesses: Poor road defense (allow 122.1 PPG away), inconsistent guard play

The trade-off: Indiana has the better record and recent wins, but Chicago’s home advantage is a real equalizer if they meet in the playoffs.

Who is the highest-paid player on the Bulls?

The highest-paid player on the Chicago Bulls for the 2025-26 season is Zach LaVine, earning approximately $45 million per year. This figure comes from contract data tracked by ZipRecruiter salary analysis. However, LaVine has been limited by injuries this season, playing only 32 games.

What is the Bulls’ salary cap situation?

• Zach LaVine: $45M/year (ZipRecruiter salary analysis)
• Nikola Vucevic: $22M/year
• Bulls total payroll: approximately $172M (luxury tax territory)

How does the highest-paid player’s performance match his salary?

LaVine’s per-game output (19.2 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 4.7 APG) does not match his salary tier when compared to Siakam (21.5 PPG, $38M/year). The gap is efficiency: Siakam has a player efficiency rating (PER) of 21.4 compared to LaVine’s 16.2 (ESPN).

Why this matters: Chicago is paying veteran prices for production that, when healthy, is All-Star quality—but that health remains the open question. For a team trying to contend, having $45M in cap space tied to a player with an injury history is a risk.

Related reading: Bulls vs Pacers head-to-head game log · Bulls vs Pacers December 5, 2025 box score

Frequently asked questions

For Bulls management, the decision is clear: invest in the young core around Buzelis and consider moving LaVine’s contract, or face being stuck in the middle of the East while the Pacers ascend.