The Milwaukee Bucks fell to the Indiana Pacers 142-130 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to end their regular season series, suffering their fourth straight loss in five games.

The Bucks (24-10) suffered their second straight loss and their third in five games, while the Pacers (19-14) won their fifth straight game. This season, the Pacers scored the most points of any opponent of the Bucks, with 142. On November 1, Toronto scored 130.

The Pacers outscored the Bucks 47-29 in the third quarter, turning the tide of the game with a 21-6 run that saw them pick up the pace and force the Bucks to turn the ball into buckets. At the half, Milwaukee led 68–66 and had generally prevented Indiana from controlling the fast-break zones.

Giannis Antetokounmpo was frequently double-teamed by the Pacers, but the Bucks were unable to capitalize in the half court.

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With 8 minutes and 20 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Tyrese Haliburton made back-to-back baskets to effectively halt the threat of a complete comeback, even though Milwaukee was able to close the gap to 128-118 with 3:59 left.

With 12 assists and 31 points, Haliburton finished. Among the seven Pacers in double figures was him.

With 1:56 remaining, the Oshkosh native highlighted the victory with a behind-the-back pass that set up a three-pointer by Myles Turner, giving the team a 139-122 advantage. When Adrian Griffin, the head coach of the Bucks, signaled for a timeout, Haliburton followed suit, indicating that the team was withdrawing their starters.

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With 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists against the Pacers, Antetokounmpo had another strong all-around game. Khris Middleton scored 19, Damian Lillard scored 23, and Brook Lopez scored 16. Eight points were scored by Malik Beasley. While defending Haliburton, he made his first two three-pointers but was once again hindered by foul trouble.

Still unable to find a way against the Pacers, Damian Lillard

Since 2020, Antetokounmpo has dominated the Pacers, and Bucks point guard Damian Lillard has given up on trying to get his own.

Lillard has shot just 32% overall (16-for-50) and 26.9% from behind the three-point line (7-for-26) in his last three games versus Indiana this season. He has averaged 19.3 points per game along with 6.0 assists.

Due in large part to Indiana’s problems managing Antetokounmpo, Lillard admitted he has played a little more off the ball against the Pacers than he has against previous teams.

“They let him play one-on-one,” stated Lillard, adding that his friend will be able to produce impressive stats if that is the case. It’s simply a different kind of gaming. The fact that their scouting report is biased against both of us and him, in my opinion, makes the game more of that kind.

According to Griffin, Indiana attempts to press Lillard in the back court and force him to give up the ball early in order to assist limit his offensive production when the two players are staggered.

However, the Pacers appeared to cause Lillard some problems even during his time in Portland (though he played in significantly fewer games). Lillard averaged 18.4 points per game while shooting just 33.8% overall and 30.2% from outside the three-point line in five games versus Indiana from 2020–22.

Before the game, Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said, “You’re talking about guys that are generational-type players that are so good that have helped redefine the game, that it’s going to take an amazing effort to try to contain them at all.”

Giannis scored thirty points in his last game (on January 1), but we performed better. It resembles attempting to keep him below 50. The level of his skill is absurd. Lillard poses an alternative kind of issue. When you play with players and a squad like this, you have to be prepared to stand up, accept leadership roles, and perform tasks that many players find unenjoyable.

In his last shooting performance against the Pacers, Lillard was just 6-for-18, including 2 for-8 from outside the three-point arc. To add 21 points, he also made seven free throws.

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