Evening of reunion between Bucks and the Pacersmore than six months after their first round series which saw Indiana to go out Milwaukee in six matches. This time, the result is different because the teammates of Giannis Antetokounmpo (37 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds) and Damian Lillard (24 points, 12 assists, 5 rebounds) brought down Pascal Siakam (25 points, 8 rebounds), Bennedict Mathurin (20 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals) and others.
As expected, Giannis Antetokounmpo attacks hard and the Pacers have no one to stop him. He quickly puts the Bucks on the right track, at +10, while the contribution of the energetic Bobby Portis also does good inside.
This same Bobby Portis who will then not fail to give some air to Milwaukee before the break, by initiating a 14-2 after Indiana came back thanks to Pascal Siakam, taking advantage in particular of Giannis Antetokounmpo's rest at the start of the quarter. time (58-44). Stray bullets hurt Rick Carlisle's men.
At +24 after the break, and an uncontrollable Giannis Antetokounmpo – Damian Lillard tandem, we thought the Bucks were heading towards a “blow-out”. But that was without counting Pascal Siakam and TJ McConnell, then Bennedict Mathurin and Tyrese Haliburton, as well as their turnovers, because a 14-0 in the third and a 16-3 in the fourth revived the Pacers and therefore the suspense. Giannis must then work again and, omnipresent on the field, he assumes his status to place the “run” that kills Indiana and helps Milwaukee obtain its fifth victory in six games (129-117).
WHAT TO REMEMBER
– Milwaukee was keen to win. Beaten four times out of five by the Pacers last season, before being eliminated by them in the playoffs, the Bucks obviously wanted revenge on their visitors. Hence the motivation of Giannis Antetokounmpo from the start, who pulled his entire group up, never leading in the score. From Damian Lillard to Bobby Portis, via Gary Trent Jr, Brook Lopez or Taurean Prince… The gap could have been greater without the relaxation of the third quarter, but Doc Rivers' players cleared their honor, demonstrating in bonus that they were one of the teams in form at the moment.
– Milwaukee moves to 2-0, Indiana to 0-2. In addition to the resumption of the rivalry between the two teams, this match also had an accounting challenge, within the framework of the now traditional “NBA Cup”. With their victory, the Bucks are getting closer to qualifying for the knockout phase, while the Pacers – despite being reigning finalists – are getting closer to an early exit. Proof that they are not at their best collectively lately, like their leader Tyrese Haliburton, with five defeats in six games. The opposite dynamic of Giannis Antetokounmpo & co.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
