CHICAGO _ Zach LaVine scored 43 points but it wasn't enough to prevent the Bulls' sixth consecutive loss, 116-105 against the Pacers on Friday night at the United Center.
The game was LaVine's second with more than 40 points this season. Coby White added 23 points for the rookie's first game with 20 or more since Nov. 23. Tomas Satoransky added 13 points and three assists, and Lauri Markkanen scored 11 with five rebounds and four assists for the Bulls.
Five Pacers scored in double figures, led by Myles Turner's 27 points. He also grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds. Former Bulls Doug McDermott (16 points) and Justin Holiday (nine points, six assists) contributed to the win.
Bulls rookie Daniel Gafford made his first career start, manning center with Wendell Carter Jr. expected to miss between four and six weeks because of a high ankle sprain. Thaddeus Young started in Carter's place Wednesday against the Pelicans but came off the bench Friday.
Before the game, Gafford reflected on making his first start.
"I'm going to be excited," he said. "I'm going to be a tad bit nervous.
"It's a lot of emotions going on. But nine times out of 10 it's going to hit me out there on the floor because my adrenaline's probably going to be rushing. There's a lot of stuff going on in my head."
Bulls coach Jim Boylen said during his pregame address that he wasn't going to "reinvent the wheel" with Gafford in the first unit. The first half appeared to be a bit of a learning curve following in Carter's footsteps.
Gafford wasn't heavily involved in the offense, scoring two points on free throws and missing two attempts. He added two rebounds and two steals.
The nadir for Gafford occurred when Turner crossed him up before driving to the basket for a dunk, and Gafford got up limping.
Gafford said before the game that his left ankle, which he hurt Monday in Dallas, was fine. "I threw some dirt on it. We good."
The Bulls reversed their usual doldrums in the third quarter and rained 3-pointers _ with LaVine making four in a row and Coby White making three _ to draw within 74-72 after trailing 54-46 at halftime.
