At the Buzzer: R1G5 — Bucks 115, Pacers 92
The Pacers scored 31 points in the first quarter, then were held to 61 over the final three quarters — and outscored by 31 points. Game 6 will be Thursday in Indy
The Pacers had won seven of nine games against the Bucks this season, and they only need one more to close out the series. But those games are the most difficult.
To make their circumstances even more intriguing, the Pacers could have done themselves a big favor by ending it on Tuesday. Since the 76ers fought back to beat the Knicks in overtime, they would have had at least five days between games since the second round won’t begin until Monday, May 6.
However, as time expired in Game 5, the Bucks’ play had the home fans chanting “Bucks in seven!”
The game officials were Scott Foster, Sean Wright, Sean Corbin, Ashley Moyer-Gleich (alternate).
Damian Lillard (right Achilles) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (left calf strain) remain out and do not seem to be progressing enough where you can expect to see them in this series.
Tyrese Haliburton was once again on the injury report, questionable with low back spasms. But he was good to go.
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🏀How it happened: Things looked up for the Pacers, at least initially. They survived a burst from Khris Middleton, who scored 10 of the Buck’s first 14 points. The Pacers made the hustle plays and shot 52% from the field in the first quarter. However, they quickly faded as the Bucks started to be disruptive, both in junking up the game with new lineups and matchups.
The middle two quarters were atrocious. The Pacers were completely handled, limited to 17 and 19 points while being outscored by 28 points. They were unable to dictate pace, get out in the open floor and shots weren’t falling. Then, they began to make uncharacteristic mistakes.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers knew he had to get creative entering Game 4 (and that continued in this one). “We knew the deal coming into the night,” he said then. “We knew we were going to have to trap more. We were going to have to do things that we don't do traditionally. … We were doing things, honestly, that we haven't done a lot. Our guys were playing their hearts out.”
They outcompeted the Pacers, who got to within nine with 7:04 left in the third quarter. Then they trailed by double-digits the rest of the way — and by as many as 27 points.