Indiana Pacers Team Report - March 23

(Basketball News) - Reggie Miller scored 17 points and Ron Artest and Al Harrington each netted 15, as the Indiana Pacers posted their largest margin of victory this season with a 101-77 dismantling of the Chicago Bulls on Monday at Conseco Fieldhouse.

With the win, Indiana is 5 1/2 games ahead of the surging Detroit Pistons for first place in both the Central Division and Eastern Conference playoff race.

The Pacers lost All Star forward Jermaine O’Neal to an apparent left knee sprain in the second quarter. O’Neal, who collided with Bulls forward Ronald Dupree, will be re-evaluated Tuesday.

Artest has scored in double digits in six straight and 10 of his last 11 games. He has averaged 4.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists in his last 10 contests.

Indiana is off until Wednesday when it hosts the Dallas Mavericks. Earlier this season, the Pacers defeated the Mavericks, 92-80, on January 9th at American Airlines Center.