CHICAGO — The Indiana Pacers became the first visiting team to win in Chicago this season, beating the Bulls 95-90 on Wednesday to close the gap between the NBA Central Division’s two top teams to 2-1/2 games.
Danny Granger scored 22 points and Roy Hibbert added 20 points, including a key dunk after a mad scramble that gave the Pacers a four-point lead with 13 seconds to go.
Indiana, who lost to the Bulls in a heated opening round of last season’s playoffs, had trailed by 10 at halftime.
The Bulls, missing injured starting forward Luol Deng with a wrist injury, are now 8-1 at home. Derrick Rose led Chicago with 24 points but had only two in the final quarter.
Spurs 105, Hawks 83
In San Antonio, Matt Bonner and DeJuan Blair each scored 17 points as San Antonio handed surging Atlanta its first lopsided loss of the season.
Tiago Splitter added 16 points for the Spurs, who relished a convincing win over the Southeast Division leaders after barely squeaking past woeful New Orleans on Monday.
Jeff Teague led Atlanta with 22 points. Kirk Hinrich made his season debut after missing 18 games recovering from shoulder surgery.
Lakers 96, Clippers 91
In Los Angeles, Kobe Bryant scored 12 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter to help rally the Lakers back from a deficit and beat the Clippers in a testy all-Los Angeles clash.
Pau Gasol had 23 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers, who finally got the better of their Staples Center co-tenants after two losses in preseason games and one earlier this month.
The teams combined for six technical fouls, and the Lakers’ Josh McRoberts was ejected.
Blake Griffin had 26 points and nine rebounds for the Clippers, who led for almost all the first 3½ quarters. Chris Paul was quiet in his return from a hamstring strain.
OTHER RESULTS: Nuggets 122, Kings 93; Nets 97, 76ers 90; Thunder 101, Hornets 91; Heat 101, Pistons 98;Bucks 105, Rockets 99; Warriors 101, Trail Blazers 93; Raptors 111, Jazz 106, 2OT; Cavs 91, Knicks 81; Wizards 92, Bobcats 75; Timberwolves 105, Mavs 90. AP