Bulls Pull Away For Win, NBA Scores

Tony Snell has no idea when he might play these days, so he prepares as if he's still a part of the Chicago Bulls' rotation.

Snell and Pau Gasol each had 22 points, Derrick Rose added 20 and the Bulls pulled away late for a 104-97 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Monday night.

"I'm staying ready every day," Snell said. "I make sure I'm staying ready at all times."

Snell, who was back in the rotation because Doug McDermott was a late scratch with a sore right knee, had 19 points in the final 17 1/2 minutes -- including 16 in the fourth quarter -- to spark the Bulls.

If not for McDermott's injury, Snell, who has started 21 games this season, might not have played at all -- just like in two of the previous three games.

"I didn't know he wasn't going to play; I had no idea," Snell said of McDermott. "I just make sure to stay ready at all times."

Aaron Brooks had 17 points and rookie Bobby Portis added 12 as the Chicago reserves outscored their counterparts 51-27.

Kyle Lowry had 28 points and DeMar DeRozan added 19 for Toronto.

Jonas Valanciunas had nine points in 20 minutes off the bench after missing 17 games with a broken left hand.

Pacers 93, Hawks 87

On a night when Monta Ellis made 10 shots from the field, one attempt that didn't go in fell into the right hands at the right time.

Ellis scored 26 points and the Indiana Pacers beat Atlanta 93-87 on Monday, ending the Hawks' six-game winning streak.

With the Pacers leading by three, Ellis pulled up for a 3-point try with 16 seconds to play. The ball bounced off the rim, but Ian Mahinmi was waiting for a tip-in that all but sealed it for Indiana.

"Tonight we played with heart and played harder. It felt good making big plays down the stretch -- that's what we want," Mahinmi said. "Late down the stretch, making big plays gives me a lot of confidence. I want to keep it going."

Ellis had 15 points in the first half, and Mahinmi finished with 13 points and nine rebounds.

Paul Millsap led Atlanta with 24 points and Jeff Teague scored 18. Al Horford had 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Monday, December 28 Scoreboard
    
Charlotte 108, Los Angeles 98
    
Indiana 93, Atlanta 87

Orlando 104, New Orleans 89

Los Angeles 108, Washington 91
    
Brooklyn 111, Miami 105

Chicago 104, Toronto 97

Dallas 103, Milwaukee 93
     
San Antonio 101, Minnesota 95

Cleveland 101, Phoenix 97
     
Utah 95, Philadelphia 91
    
Golden State 122, Sacramento 103

Tuesday, December 29 Schedule (All Times Central)

Detroit at New York, 6:30 p.m.

Atlanta at Houston, 7 p.m.

Miami at Memphis, 7 p.m.

Milwaukee at Oklahoma City, 7 p.m.

Cleveland at Denver, 8 p.m.