Led by a determined Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks started the game with a 10-3. Milwaukee gets their hands on the match directly, and it is Joe Ingles who will particularly distinguish himself in this first act. The Australian will plant three 3-point shots to allow the Bucks to lead by 10 points at the end of the first quarter against the Pacers who are trying to resist (40-30).
Indiana reacted very well by starting the second quarter with a 14-4 to return equality (44-44). But now, the Bucks do not doubt and put things back in place fairly quickly. On a “fadeaway”, Khris Middleton restores 8 points lead to his team (57-49). Milwaukee leads 64-55 at halftime.
Carried by a Giannis Antetokounmpo in all the right moves, the Bucks started the 3rd quarter aggressively, and went back over the ten-point lead (75-63). But suddenly, Milwaukee will lose the thread at all levels, offensively and especially defensively to the point of collecting 49 points in this third quarter! And it’s a former home, Jordan Nwora, who allows the Pacers to take the lead (102-101). Indiana completely reversed the match, and leads by 3 points at the start of the 4th quarter (104-101).
Rick Carlisle’s men continued their momentum at the start of the 4th quarter, and increased their lead to 7 points (108-101). Six minutes from the end, Milwaukee is 12 points behind (125-113), and Myles Turner got the whole room up with a big poster on Giannis Antetokounmpo!
On a 3-point shot at the end of possession less than 3 minutes from time, this same Turner gives his team a 15-point lead and kills the hopes of the Bucks (134-119). Indiana wins 139-123 on the floor of Milwaukee.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The excellent operation of the Pacers. Deprived of Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana pulled off the big hit on the Milwaukee floor, where it is never easy to win. A result that allows them to still believe in a qualification for the play-in. This victory allows Myles Turner and his band to bring their record to 32-38, and therefore to replace themselves just behind the Wizards, 10th (32-37).
– The Bucks defense took on water. Tonight, the Bucks had decided not to defend or else, and it’s rare for them, they underestimated their opponent. Giannis Antetokounmpo’s teammates collected 139 points at home! While they mastered this match in the first half, they completely sank thereafter, especially in the 3rd quarter by conceding 49 points. A lack of effort and above all a lack of desire for Milwaukee, which has already validated its ticket to the playoffs. An important clue to better understand this rout: Brook Lopez was not playing tonight.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅Andrew Nembhard. Very good game on his part, he finished as the Pacers’ leading scorer with 24 points.
✅ Aaron Nesmith. The nice surprise of the evening since the former Celtic finished with 22 points at 8/11 in shooting including 6/9 from 3-pointers.
✅ TJ McConnell. Coming off the bench, he showed what a real “playmaker” was. He finished with 19 points and 12 assists at 9/12 shooting but above all with a +/- of +36!
✅⛔ Giannis Antetokounmpo. He had a good game with 25 points and 9 rebounds at 10/17 shooting in just 26 minutes. But his foul problems forced him to stay on the bench for long minutes.
✅ ⛔ Jrue Holiday. He responded with a nice double-double. He finished with 19 points and 11 assists at 8/12 shooting including 2/4 from 3-pointers. On the other hand, he failed to curb the Nembhard-McConnell pair.
⛔️ Khris Middleton. This is the big worry. Since his return from injury, he has had a hard time really continuing. He had another difficult evening with a 6/15 in shooting including 0/5 from 3-pointers…
THE FOLLOWING
Bucks (50-20): reception of the Raptors in the night from Sunday to Monday (1H).
Pacers (32-38): reception of the Sixers on the night of Saturday to Sunday (midnight).
