Bulls rout previously unbeaten Pacers

Chicago: Britain’s Luol Deng scored 23 points and Derrick Rose added 20 in his return from injury on Saturday to power the Chicago Bulls over previously unbeaten Indiana 110-94.

The Pacers, who fell to 9-1, had been the NBA’s last undefeated team and the first club to win so many games to start a season since the Dallas Mavericks in 2002.

But, a night after the Pacers ripped Milwaukee, hosts Bulls outplayed Indiana from the start, seizing a 31-20 lead after the first quarter and a 60-35 half-time advantage.

Chicago’s biggest lead of the night was 33 points before the Bulls, 5-3, benched their stars and left the reserves to finish off their fourth win in a row.

Bulls playmaker Rose, who had not practised since injuring his right hamstring in a victory on Monday over Cleveland, was named a starter shortly before the game and showed he was ready to return with a solid performance, hitting 6-of-11 shots from 3-point range and 7-of-16 overall in 31 minutes on the court.

Roy Hibbert had 14 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Pacers, who had seven double-figure scorers.