Pacers Go Up 3-1 Against Star-Less Bucks
After going down 2-1 in this first-round series the Milwaukee Bucks knew they had to step up if they wanted to tie this series up. Milwaukee had an uphill battle to climb as during their Game Four matchup it was announced the Bucks would be without their two biggest stars in Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Damian Lillard. Without their two stars, Milwaukee put up a solid effort, but a big third-quarter run by the Pacers deflated any hopes the Bucks had of winning in Indiana. The Bucks now head back to Milwaukee for Game Five facing elimination. Will Milwaukee’s stars step out, and play or will the Pacers take advantage once again, and move on to the Eastern Conference Semifinals?
Even without Antetokounmpo, or Lillard the Bucks battled in this first quarter as they were tied at 33 with the Pacers. In the first, Bobby Portis Jr. found himself ejected after getting into a scuffle with Andrew Nembhard. During the eight-minute mark of the second quarter, the Pacers took the lead and never looked back. Indiana held a six-point lead at one point until Milwaukee cut the deficit to three heading into halftime. The Pacers outscored the Bucks 31-21 during the third quarter to take a 13-point lead. Indiana’s hot shooting with 57 percent from the floor, and 50 percent from beyond the arc was instrumental at the end for the Pacers. Both teams scored 28 points during the fourth quarter. Milwaukee could not get a run going in the final 12 minutes of action, and that ultimately led to the Bucks not being able to stage a comeback or pull out the win.
Myles Turner led all scorers with 29 points in addition to having nine rebounds, four assists, and three blocks. Game Four was ultimately Tyrese Haliburton’s best performance from the field as he finished with 24 points on eight of 16 shooting. Brook Lopez’s 27 points on 12 of 18 shooting led the Bucks. Lopez also recorded nine rebounds, an assist, and a block. Khris Middleton finished this loss with another double-double putting up 25 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, a steal, and four turnovers. All four of Middleton’s turnovers were committed in the first half.
