MILWAUKEE (AP) \u2014 Gary Trent Jr. got hot from deep, Giannis Antetokounmpo dominated in the paint and together they gave the Milwaukee Bucks new life in their first-round playoff series.<\/p>\n
Trent tied a franchise playoff record with nine 3-pointers and scored 37 points, Antetokounmpo also had 37 and the Bucks used a big second half to beat Indiana 117-101 on Friday night and cut the Pacers\u2019 series lead to 2-1.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mindset was just to come in and get a win,\u201d said Trent, who got a rare start and had his highest playoff scoring output.<\/p>\n
Trent also was assigned to cover Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, who was held in check for most of the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was trying to be all over him to start the game,\u201d Trent said. \u201cLet him know you\u2019re there and try to take him out of his game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bucks coach Doc Rivers said Trent\u2019s aggressiveness earned him a start.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were two reasons. The offensive part because he\u2019s really aggressive and the defensive part because of his hands,\u201d Rivers said. \u201cWe wanted somebody aggressive to attack Haliburton. I thought he did that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Pacers led 57-47 at halftime, but Trent hit three 3-pointers early in the third to pull the Bucks even at 62. The Bucks grabbed a 72-69 lead on Antetokounmpo\u2019s three-point play and led 86-75 at the end of the quarter.<\/p>\n
The lead grew to as many as 20 in the fourth and Trent finished 9 for 12 behind the arc to tie Hall of Famer Ray Allen\u2019s mark for most 3-pointers in a postseason game. The Bucks outscored the Pacers 70-44 in the second half.<\/p>\n
Antetokounmpo added 12 rebounds for Milwaukee, which hosts Game 4 on Sunday. A.J. Green scored 12 points and Bobby Portis had 10 for the Bucks, who took on the Pacers for the 18th time in the past two seasons.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to stay humble,\u201d Antetokounmpo said. \u201cIt\u2019s just one game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Indiana had won five of the last six playoff games between the teams and ousted the Bucks from the playoffs in the opening round last season. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe were bad on both sides of the ball,\u201d Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. \u201cThey were great, we were bad.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pascal Siakam had 28 points and Aaron Nesmith scored 18 for the Pacers. Tyrese Haliburton finished with 14 points and 10 assists.<\/p>\n
After trailing throughout Game 2, the Bucks grabbed an early lead. Antetokounmpo and Trent combined to score Milwaukee\u2019s first 21 points. No other Bucks player scored until Green sank a 3-pointer with 2:28 left in the opening quarter.<\/p>\n
Milwaukee shot 4 for 23 from 3-point range over the first two quarters but was 11 for 18 after halftime. <\/p>\n
Bucks star guard Damian Lillard was held to seven points on 2-of-12 shooting. He made just 1-of-8 3-pointers. <\/p>\n
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