Milwaukee Extends Series, Wins Game Five
In a season for Milwaukee that has been anything but what a Bucks fan wanted; things just seem to keep getting worse. First, they have to fire former coach Adrian Griffin mid-season and hire now-current Doc Rivers, then they finally make it to the playoffs and their best two players are out, leading us to go into tonight where they were down 3-1 in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Down 3-1 facing elimination in this series, everyone knew they were going to have to bring their A-game if they wanted to extend this series to another game. That being said bringing their A-game is exactly what they did as by the end of the third quarter in this one the game was all but over as Milwaukee led 87-67. Bobby Portis had his best game of the series by far finishing with 29 points and 10 rebounds to lead Milwaukee to victory. Let’s take a look at how the Bucks got this win!
From the opening tip-off, the Bucks asserted their dominance, setting the tone for the game’s entirety. With Milwaukee’s normal dynamic duo of Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo out due to injuries, they were led by Khris Middleton and Portis in this one. Middleton and Portis operated the offense with precision and efficiency, leaving the Pacers struggling to keep pace as they combined for 58 points, much of which came from Portis battling in the post and Middleton knocking down four triples. The Bucks' supporting cast also made significant contributions, with Brook Lopez anchoring the defense with his shot-blocking prowess, and Patrick Beverley orchestrating the offense with his playmaking skills. Off the bench, Danilo Gallinari provided an offensive spark, while Michael Beasley showcased his scoring ability, ensuring that Milwaukee maintained its momentum throughout the game.
Defensively, the Bucks suffocated Indiana, limiting their scoring opportunities and forcing turnovers with their tenacious perimeter defense. Indiana’s offense, led by Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton, struggled to find its rhythm against Milwaukee’s defense, resulting in a significant deficit that proved to be impossible for the Pacers to come back from. As the final buzzer sounded the Bucks won this one 115-92 to make the series 3-2 as both teams head back to Indiana for Game Six. With the future injury status of Giannis and Lillard unknown can the Bucks come back and win this series or will the Pacers head to the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals for the first time since 2014? Are the Bucks in danger of being a first-round playoff exit for the second year in a row?
