CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Indiana Pacers try to improve the best record in the Eastern Conference on Saturday when they visit the struggling Chicago Bulls at the United Center.
The Pacers have won 18 of their first 23 games and are two games ahead of the New Orleans Hornets for the best record in the East. They trail only the Los Angeles Lakers for the league's best record.
Indiana extended its home winning streak to seven games with a 103-92 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday.
Fred Jones scored a career-high 18 points as he filled the void for Jermaine O'Neal, who was in foul trouble, and the injured Al Harrington.
O'Neal scored 20 points and Harrington had nine before leaving with a bruised cheek after colliding with Atlanta guard Stephen Jackson. X-rays were negative and he is expected to play on Saturday.
Ron Artest had 17 points, seven rebounds and five assists and Reggie Miller scored 13 points for Indiana, which has won 12 of its last 15 overall games.
Chicago's latest slide reached four games with a 109-95 road loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday.
Marcus Fizer scored a season-high 19 points and Kendall Gill added 18 for the Bulls, who have lost seven in a row on the road and have the second-worst overall record in the Eastern Conference.
Rookie Kirk Hinrich had a career-high 17 points for Chicago, which fell to 1-4 under coach Scott Skiles.
The Bulls played without forward Corie Blount, who sat out with a medial collateral sprain and is questionable for Saturday' game.
Chicago split four meetings with Indiana last season, winning both games at the United Center. The Pacers have won 17 of the last 20 meetings between the teams.
