It may get testy in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference playoffs between the Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum.
The Pacers lead the best-of-7 series 2-0, but the Bucks have experience recovering from 2-game deficits. Indiana has relied on its familiar balance and high-octane offense, while the Bucks must give Giannis Antetokounmpo more help.
Milwaukee’s fans will no doubt be geared up, and the chippy and petty play may continue.
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The Pacers get hot from long range late in the quarter and have hit 7-of-24. Aaron Nesmith has 15 points and 6 rebounds, Pascal Siakam scores 13 and Bennedict Mathurin 9, and Tyrese Haliburton 8 points and 8 assists.
Indiana leads by 12 points in the closing minute. Milwaukee leads 39-38 with 5 minutes left.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has just 4 points in the second quarter, 17 total. Gary Trent Jr. has 13. The Bucks are 4-of-23 on 3s.
3:57 left 2Q, Pacers 43, Bucks 39: Aaron Nesmith is 3-of-5 on 3s, the rest of the Pacers 2-of-16. He has 13 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals.
5:59 left 2Q, Pacers 35, Bucks 34: Both teams are struggling offensively. Indiana is shooting 3-of-18 on 3s, Milwaukee 2-of-17.
Giannis Antetokounmpo returns with 7:14 remaining and the Pacers leading 33-32. Damian Lillard picks up his second foul with 10:14 left on a Pascal Siakam basket. Siakam has 9 points.
End of 1Q, Pacers 26, Bucks 26: The Pacers are 2-of-13 from 3-point range, the Bucks 2-of-9. Bennedict Mathurin leads Indiana with 7 points off the bench.
Giannis Antetokounmpo picks up his 2nd foul at the 4:56 mark. He remains in the game until the 3:49 mark with 13 points.
5:44 left 1Q: Bucks 19, Pacers 16: Giannis Antetokounmpo scores 5 quick points. Timeout, Indiana. The Greek Freak has 11 points, and Gary Trent Jr. 8, accounting for the Bucks’ total.
6:32 left 1Q, Pacers 16, Bucks 14: Gary Trent Jr.’s 3-pointer at the 9:20 mark gives Milwaukee a 7-4 lead, its first since the 9-minute mark of the first quarter of Game 1. He already has 8 points.
Giannis Antetokounmpo picks up a foul on the first play of the game. Brook Lopez is called for an illegal screen on the Bucks’ first possession.
Gary Trent Jr. is replacing Taurean Prince in Milwaukee’s starting lineup. Trent has averaged 9 points and Prince 3 in the first two games of the series.
Dustin Dopirak, IndyStar: Bucks 122-113
The Pacers have protected homecourt advantage and will maintain it at least until Game 5. They’ve posted the second-best offensive rating in the playoffs so far and a top-four net rating. That being said, they haven’t been perfect, haven’t stopped Giannis Antetokounmpo at all and haven’t seen the best of Damian Lillard.Â
Now they go to Milwaukee for Game 3 in what promises to be an absurdly intense environment, with Bucks fans certain to hurl as much grief on the Pacers as possible. If the Bucks are going to win a game in this series, it’s probably going to be this one. The Pacers are playing plenty well enough to take a best-of-seven, but maybe not well enough to sweep it.
Pacers: Isaiah Jackson (Achilles) is out.
Bucks: Tyler Smith (ankle) is questionable.
(All times ET; *-if necessary)
Game 1, April 19: Pacers 117, Bucks 98
Game 2, April 22: Pacers 123, Bucks 115
Game 3, Fri., April 25: at Bucks, 8 p.m.
Game 4, Sun., April 27: at Bucks, 9:30 p.m.
*-Game 5, Tues., April 29: at Pacers, 7 p.m.
*-Game 6, Fri., May 2: at Bucks, TBA
*-Game 7, Sun., May 4: Pacers, TBA
TV: FanDuel Sports Network, with Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analysis) and Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporting); ESPNU, NBA TV.
93.5 and 107.5 FM in Indianapolis, with Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analysis) and Pat Boylan (sideline reporting). Game 1 streaming is on SiriusXM channels 81 (Bucks feed), 213.
Are the Pacers favored over the Bucks today, April 25? Indiana Pacers vs. Milwaukee Bucks betting odds
via BetMGM
Game 3 favorite: Bucks by 4.5 points
Over/under: 230.5 total points
Moneyline: Pacers +165, Bucks -200
ESPN’s matchup predictor gives the Bucks a 55.3% chance of winning.
Game 3 Pacers tickets start at $38 on StubHub.
Look for Pacers tickets on StubHub
(with series averages)
Pascal Siakam (24.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals, 58.1% shooting, 50% 3-pointers, 100% free throws)Tyrese Haliburton (15.5 points, 12.0 assists, 6.0 rebounds, 17.6% 3-pointers)Myles Turner (17.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.0 blocked shots, 55.6% 3-pointers)Aaron Nesmith (11.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 62.5% 3-pointers)Andrew Nembhard (17.0 points, 5.5 assists, 60.9% shooting, 50.0% 3-pointers)