At the Buzzer: R1G2 — Pacers 125, Bucks 108
At the Buzzer: R1G2 — Pacers 125, Bucks 108
Pascal Siakam scored 37 points and led the Pacers to their first playoff win since 2018, evening the series at 1. They become the first road team to win over the first four days of the playoffs.
After a Game 1 loss, the Pacers were disappointed — but knew they had a long series ahead of them. They had to put that game behind them, learn from it, and move on to Game 2 at Fiserv Forum Tuesday night.
The game officials were Tony Brothers, James Williams, Jacyn Goble, Derrick Collins (alternate).
Giannis Antetokounmpo was ruled out for the game four hours before tip-off. No surprise has he continues to recover from a left calf strain suffered on April 9. “He shot today,” Doc Rivers said pregame. “He was on the floor a bunch so he’s getting closer.”
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🏀How it happened: The Pacers survived the initial burst as Damian Lillard scored 10 of the Bucks’ first 16 points. Obi Toppin came off the bench and helped them close the first on a 17-5 run. Rick Carlisle kept to an eight-man rotation and he used three timeouts in the first five minutes of the second quarter. By the break, they already made two more 3-pointers (10) than in Game 1 and Pascal Siakam led them with 21 points. Lillard and Brook Lopez accounted for 38 of Milwaukee’s 55 points and the Pacers held them to just eight paint points.
Things started to become chippy in the third period, yet the Pacers kept their poise. Andrew Nembhard was special and finished with 20 points, but he also has been showing his competitive side; he’s not backing down to anyone. And the physicality didn’t both the Pacers.
Each time the Bucks went on the run, the Pacers had an answer. And that was especially key early in the fourth quarter. Myles Turner finished with 22 points and Lillard had 34.
The Pacers shot 55.6%, owned the paint and got out and ran more often than in Game 1. The Bucks, who pulled their starters with less than five minutes left, played smothering defense on Tyrese Haliburton and often picked up full court. The Pacers turned it over just four times during those meaningful minutes and responded well.