Pacers rediscover scoring prowess, overwhelm Bucks to tie series 125-108

24/04/2024 05:10

Indiaia shot 55% from the field and found offense from more sources than Milwaukee's duo of Damian Lillard and Brook Lopez

The Indiana Pacers won their first playoff game in six years by beating the Milwaukee Bucks 125-108. In a game characterized by numerous runs with many of them often coming one after another, Indiana had a superior second half to move far enough out aheada and prevent Milwaukee from attempting a comeback.

Milwaukee was unable to overcome the lack of secondary scoring options tonight and was outgunned by Indiana's persistence in the loss. Despite Damian Lillard's 15 points in the first and 30+ after three quarters, the Pacers were able to get into the driver's seat with stronger halfcourt sets and beating the slower Bucks in transition to keep them at bay.

Indiana's Pascal Siakam (37 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists) performed admirably as the featured option from all over the floor with Tyrese Haliburton (12 points and 12 assists) recovering from a forgettable game one. Myles Turner (22 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists) and Andrew Nembhard (20 points) bolstered Siakam's brilliance in the runaway win while getting assisting on 35 of their 45 field goals.

Milwaukee's Lillard (34 points, 45assists, and 4 rebounds) and Brook Lopez (22 points and 2 blocks) kept the team afloat through the first three quarters, but the team succumbed to Indiana's parade of baskets in the fourth. Khris Middleton (15 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists) suffered a first half injury that slowed him noticeably.

From the start of the opening period, both teams gave the viewing audience the high-scoring affair that they had clamored for in game one. The Pacers seemed intent on moving the ball side to side around the arc to find open shooters. Lillard and Lopez cooked from distance to help the Bucks snatch the lead, but it was the lack of support from their teammates that allowed Indiana to catch up and surpass them quickly. Even with the two Bucks pouring in 24 of the team's 26 points, Siakam's handful of points in the last minute helped the Pacers go up four.

The teams continued to score appreciably better in the second period, as at one point, they had either hit on six or seven of their first 15 3-point attempts. The teams matched long shot for long shot throughout the middle part of the frame and there were countless ties and lead changes during those fraught minutes. Siakam's three pushed the Pacers ahead and they went into the half up five.

Indiana received needed production from Nembhard and Turner in the third to give their scoring leader Siakam some relief, as they padded their lead. Milwaukee found more balance from its veteran starters, similarly to game one. Lillard's tough and-one and Bobby Portis' floater edged the Bucks within three. The Pacers had more success converting in the halfcourt in the last moments of the third and walked away up nine.

Observations

• The giveaway t-shirts tonight with the shoe on the front were pretty nice looking.
• Lillard can't keep up this scoring pace in the first half for seven games can he? [61 points in two games so far]
• 20/20 hindsight: I would have loved so much if Siakam came over in the Leonard/Green trade.
• Malik Beasley (or Portis) needs to score in at least 15 in each game to give Milwaukee a fighting chance to get to four wins.
• From the tip, Haliburton connected on his first three, while Lillard continued his offensive awesomeness. Brook Lopez hit three long ones from behind the arc, and combined with Lillard's production made up the team's first 21. Siakam tried to get his offense started from distance and in the paint. Middleton's right knee appeared to buckle on a drive. Despite the fireworks from Lillard and Lopez, Indiana snuck into the lead behind Ben Sheppard's three and Obi Toppin's tip-in. The Bucks had trouble containing Toppin and Turner's athleticism, and the Pacers staged a 13-2 run to end the quarter up 30-26.
• At the start of the second, Toppin's wing three drew out a smattering of boos. Lillard's 20th point brought Milwaukee within one. Middleton hit a baseline jumpre and spoonfed Bobby Portis for a slam to put the Bucks back up. Lopez's catch-and-shoot three edged Milwaukee ahead again. Despite the teams' scoring prowess and Lillard's 'Dame Time' touch, Indiana managed to add a point to their 1st quarter advantage and it was 60-55.
• Coming out of the break, Siakam continued to be like young Sean Elliott in attacking the basket relentlessly. Lopez' fifth three would be the only scoring for Milwaukee over the first 2+ minutes. A re-energized Indiana squad made a 7-0 run to move ahead by double digits. The Pacers drew a series of fouls that angered the Bucks players and fans. Nembhard asserted himself on the both ends, and earned himself several impressive buckets to help the Pacers extend their advantage. The Bucks squanded opportunities to get back into the lead, and Indiiana ended the quarter up 95-87.
• Pat Connaughton's and-1 drew Milwaukee within four earlier in the fourth quarter, but the Pacers took advantage of the Bucks' errant shooting and, behind Siakam's bucket-getting, went up a dozen. A Portis hook stopped an 8-0 run, but Indiana continued its mechanical execution to keep nudging up its lead. In a pattern oft-repeated in their regular season meetings (Pacers 4 to 1), Indiana overwhelmed Milwaukee on offensive to forcefully grab the win.

The teams head to Indianapolis for Game 3 on Friday at a special early time of 4:30 PM CDT.