Pascal Siakam has 37 points for Pacers in Game 2 vs. Bucks

Bucks’ Doc Rivers speaks about Game 2 loss to Pacers in the NBA playoffs

Bucks coach Doc Rivers discusses what went wrong in a Game 2 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday, 125-108.

Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers has said that his team doesn’t want to get into track meets, especially against the speedy Indiana Pacers.

Well, Game 2 of their first-round matchup in the Eastern Conference playoffs turned into a fast-paced affair and the result was a 125-108 victory by the Pacers over the Bucks on Tuesday at Fiserv Forum.

The series is tied 1-1 and will shift to Indiana for the next two games, with Game 3 on Friday. The Bucks have played both games without star Giannis Antetokounmpo (left calf injury).

The Bucks held the Pacers to just 94 points in Game 1. But in Game 2, Indiana was back to around its regular-season average of 123.3 points per game.

“I thought it was more our offense against their defense than the other way,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers said. “They got out on breaks because of our offense.

“I thought their pressure took us out of sets. I thought we struggled, execution-wise, on the offensive end. That bled over to the defensive end.”

The Pacers’ Pascal Siakam was a matchup nightmare for the Bucks, scoring 37 points and pulling down 11 rebounds.

Damian Lillard led the Bucks with 34 points, one shy of his Game 1 total.

Another big first half for Damian Lillard

Lillard hit his first shot – a three-pointer – in the first minute.

That was the start of another big first half for the Bucks star in the absence of Antetokounmpo.

BOX SCORE: Pacers 125, Bucks 108

Lillard had 15 of the Bucks’ 26 points in the first quarter. He had 19 in the first quarter of Game 1.

Lillard scored 26 points in the first half, combining with Brook Lopez for 10 three-pointers.

But the Bucks faced a 60-55 deficit at the break because Siakam racked up 21 points and seven rebounds.

Lillard shot 3 for 9 in the second half.

“I think they just picked up the pressure,” Lillard said. “They started to make guard and deny a little bit harder. And I just think we weren’t as organized as we needed to be when they defended that way.”

Pacers grab control in the third quarter

The Pacers opened the third quarter on a 9-3 run. They turned the game into an up-and-down game, which is what Indiana wanted.

All nine of those points came from Andrew Nembhard and Siakam. That set the tone for a big quarter by those players, combining for 17 points as the Pacers grabbed a 92-83 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The Bucks closed within 92-88 in the first minute of the fourth quarter after two free throws by Khris Middleton and a three-point play by Pat Connaughton.

Then the Pacers reeled off an 8-0 run to gain some breathing room. They pushed the lead up to 112-92 with 6:22 remaining, with Bucks fans streaming for the exits.

“They got hot,” Middleton said. “We couldn’t get really anything going offensively. They took advantage of that.

“Pushed it. Siakam made some tough plays. (Myles) Turner hit some shots. But I think for the most part, their pace after out missed shots just killed us tonight.”

Siakam shot 3 for 4 on three-pointers, and he also handed out six assists.

“I thought the difference today was the three-ball,” Rivers said. “Plus, I thought he was a playmaker today as well.

“In Game 1 he scored, but he didn’t really get anyone else involved. But I thought tonight he did everything.”

Khris Middleton comes back from ankle scare

The Bucks hope that Antetokounmpo is close to returning from a strained left soleus (calf) muscle suffered on April 9.

But they got a scare in the first quarter of Tuesday night’s Game 2 when Middleton rolled his right ankle when he stepped on the foot of Siakam. Siakam was called for a foul, and Middleton slapped the court in pain and frustration at the 8-minute, 20-second mark.

Just 10 seconds before that Middleton was clearly in discomfort after he pulled down a defensive rebound and pushed the ball up, which led to two Damian Lillard free throws. As Lillard took the foul shots, Middleton paced side-to-side, clearly trying to walk something off.

Middleton stayed in the game and missed a shot before Doc Rivers called a timeout at 6:21, at which point the three-time all-star went straight to the locker room. The Bucks announced he had his right ankle re-taped, and he returned to the bench shortly thereafter.

He checked back into the game with 2:22 left in the first quarter and made his first shot nearly three minutes into the second.

Middleton missed 16 games earlier this season with a severely sprained left ankle after he landed on the foot of Phoenix’s Kevin Durant following a jump shot.

Middleton had six points at halftime and finished with 15 on 6-for-14 shooting.

He shook off any concerns about his ankle after the game.

“I’ll be alright,” Middleton said.

Bucks vs. Pacers box score in the NBA playoffs

What channel is Bucks vs Pacers on today? How to watch, stream live

• TV channels: (Bally Sports Wisconsin; NBA TV)
• Streaming: You can stream the game on the Bally Sports Wisconsin and NBA apps
• Announcers: Lisa Byington, Marques Johnson and Melanie Ricks for Bally Sports Wisconsin and Gus Johnson, Jim Jackson and Dennis Scott for NBA TV.

Bucks vs Pacers start time, TV info, location

• Start time: 7:30 pm CDT
• TV info: Bally Sports Wisconsin and NBA TV
• Location: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Is Giannis playing tonight?

Giannis Antetokounmpo was listed as doubtful on Monday’s injury report with a left soleus strain in his calf, but then was downgraded to out in the update on Tuesday afternoon.

Bucks coach Doc Rivers gave a brief update on Antetokounmpo in Rivers’ pregame availability.

“He shot today,” Rivers said. “He was on the floor a bunch, so he’s getting closer.”

Bucks record without Giannis

• 1-1 in the 2024 playoffs after Sunday’s win. Over his career, the Bucks are 4-3 in playoff games he misses.
• 4-6 in the 2023-24 regular season

Bucks probable starting lineup

Guards: Damian Lillard, Pat Beverley

Forwards: Chris Middleton, Bobby Portis

Center: Brook Lopez

Bucks vs. Pacers preview

bucks: Damian Lillard scored 35 points in the first half of Game 1, a Bucks record for a half in the playoffs. Lillard and Khris Middleton (23 points and 10 rebounds) will look to carry the offense again.

Pacers: Indiana expects a more aggressive game from star guard Tyrese Haliburton, an Oshkosh native. The Pacers should also shoot better than their Game 1 performance of 8 for 39 (20.5%) on three-pointers.

Bucks vs Pacers odds, betting line, spread

Odds according to BetMGM.

• Spread: Bucks -1
• Over/under: 223.5
• Moneylines: Pacers -105; Bucks -115

Bucks vs Pacers prediction, game picks

Pacers 110, Bucks 103: Indiana coach Rick Carlisle is known to make adjustments during a playoff series, and he’ll also get a much better performance from Tyrese Haliburton.

Bucks vs Pacers injury report

bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo, out (left soleus strain)

Pacers: Bennedict Mathurin, out (right shoulder labral tear)

Bucks vs Pacers stats

Bucks (regular season)

• PPG: 119.0
• PPG allowed: 116.4
• FG%: 48.7
• 3PT%: 37.3

Pacers (regular season)

• PPG: 123.3
• PPG allowed: 120.2
• FG%: 50.7
• 3PT%: 37.4

Bucks vs Pacers NBA playoffs schedule