INDIANAPOLIS — Whether it’s by the Bulls or another NBA team, DeMar DeRozan is going to get paid this summer. A lot.
The veteran forward showed again Wednesday just what will come with the purchase of his services in free agency. Not only did he score a season-high 46 points in the Bulls’ 132-129 overtime victory over the Pacers, but he also missed a free throw on purpose late in regulation to eventually set up his own game-tying baseline jumper before scoring nine points in the extra period.
No word yet on if he also piloted the team charter home.
It was a much-needed win for the Bulls (32-34), inching them to within 3½ games of the Heat as they try to get out of the No. 9 spot in the Eastern Conference.
“It’s like a survival mode that kicks in — in a fun way,” DeRozan said of his performance Wednesday. “You embrace those moments. I’m not scared to fail, I’m not scared to try and make something happen. I want those moments more than anything.
“It reminds me of my childhood, being a kid and doing the little fake countdown, jumping on the bed. As a competitor, those moments are always something I try and relish in.”
The Bulls needed all of those moments against the Pacers (37-30), who led 62-58 at the half. After intermission, the Bulls were all business on both ends of the floor, initially led by defensive specialist Alex Caruso, who hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit to one and then, surprisingly, did it again three minutes later to give the Bulls a three-point lead. In case the Pacers weren’t sold on his long-range prowess, Caruso hit another three just over a minute later, and then answered with a finger roll.
The Bulls had built a 93-85 lead by the end of the third quarter, which Caruso finished with 14 points on 4-of-4 shooting from three-point range.
But no lead is safe with these Bulls. Trailing by one with 3:15 left, the Pacers got a little momentum when a foul on DeRozan was overturned on a challenge, but they missed a three-point attempt. No worries: The Bulls faltered on the other end with a 24-second shot-clock violation. But an errant pass by Obi Toppin led to a layup from Coby White to put the Bulls up three.
Then Myles Turner happened. The Pacers big man hit back-to-back threes, including one with 56 seconds left, forcing coach Billy Donovan into a timeout with the Bulls trailing by three.
Craziness ensued, as White appeared to give the Bulls the lead on a breakaway, but Pascal Siakam came from nowhere to block the shot. The Pacers ran down the loose ball and were eventually fouled to again make it a three-point lead with 5.5 seconds left.
White was hurt on the play and was in the training room for the last possession, but the Pacers chose to foul DeRozan and put him at the line with 3.8 seconds left. DeRozan made the first shot and purposely missed the second, which the Pacers tipped out of bounds. DeRozan then hit the game-tying shot.
Donovan said White’s injury involved his right hip. He’ll be evaluated in Chicago.
And as for DeRozan? It was the kind of showing the Bulls know to expect.
“The way we played against Dallas [on Monday], I always feel good about the way [DeRozan] is going to come back and respond,” Donovan said. “He’s that competitive.”
