Pacers take commanding 2-0 series lead over the Bucks, as tension continues to rise
Day four of the NBA playoffs concluded on Tuesday, and the Pacers, after a 123-115 win, take a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Indiana faithful once again showed up in support of the Pacers in Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Behind the substantial depth of the Pacers roster, not even a Bucks team with Damian Lillard could best the six players in double figures.
Tuesday marked Lillard’s first return to the Bucks’ lineup since March 18. At first, he was sidelined with calf sourness, but Lillard experienced abnormal swelling in his right calf. A week later, it was diagnosed that the swelling was a deep vein thrombosis. Immediately placed on blood thinners, it wasn’t certain how much time he would miss.
Lillard went on to miss the final 14 games of the regular season, but the awareness to catch the blood clot early allowed for a fast a remarkable recovery.
After missing game 1, Lillard was cleared from his clots in just three weeks, he returned, but in his first game back he struggles finding offense ending with 14 points and 4-for-13 from the field. His performance wasn’t enough to match the hot start from the Pacers offense through two games.
Doc Rivers got more production from Kyle Kuzma after posting zero points, zero rebounds, and zero assists in 22 minutes in game 1.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led the team with 34 points, 18 rebounds, and seven assists. Off the bench, Bobby Portis was the catalyst that allowed the Bucks to remain in the game and bring them to within two, 113-115, with just under two minutes left.
After last night’s 28-point, 12-rebound game in which Portis shot 57.8% from the field and 6-for-11 from three, Portis has now had 25 games in which he has scored 10 or more points for Milwaukee in the playoffs and continues to give them the spark they need.
Offense stays hot
The Pacers continue to get high-level production from every part of their lineup. Tyrese Haliburton through two games is averaging 15.5 ppg and for many other $40 million a year players, that kind of performance might not fly, especially as the team’s highest-played player, but that’s not the case.
Former NBA champion Pascal Siakam, after 24 points and 11 rebounds, shot 50% from the field in game two and 66% in game 1. He has scored timely baskets for the Pacers and has been the team’s go-to scorer.
Aaron Nesmith added 17 points on 5 for 9 shooting, Myles Turner 15 on 6 for 10 shooting, and Bennedict Mathurin 4 for 10 from the field off the bench. Collectively, Indiana shot 49% from the field, with 44% from three and 19 of 19 from the free-throw line.
Milwaukee did look better offensively coming off their 98-point performance in game 1, but as the series shifts to Milwaukee with the Pacers up 2-0, game 3 is a must-win for the Bucks.
After the game, Antetokounmpo addressed the media with a sense of seriousness and an understanding of the work that must be done to try and even the series at home.
“My mindset right now is game three. I know the f***ing deal, man. I just know the deal. I know what I gotta do,” he said.
Bad Blood
Over the past couple of seasons, tension has been brewing between these two teams. In 2023, Haliburton mocked Lillard’s dame time celebration in the NBA’s in-season tournament.
Then, after his career-high 64 points, Antetokoumpo fiercely looked for his game ball when the Pacers wanted to keep it for Oscar Tshiebwe’s first career points in 2024.
The ruckus started again in game 1 when Lillard who was not suited up, started a verbal altercation with Haliburton that involved Gary Trent and Siakam exchanging words. In game 2, after Lillards first three-point basket, Halliburton responded by hitting a three in his face with some words added on.
Later, Trent and Siakam fighting for a rebound resulted in Siakam being thrown on the floor; late in the fourth quarter, it continued with Haliburton and Lillard exchanging words, and Siakam and Portis doing the same, but receiving double technical fouls.
With a guaranteed minimum of two games left in the series, tensions will only rise between in what has become a rivalry.
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