Pacers Advance to Second Round with Bench Explosion
The 6th seeded Pacers saw six players scoring in double digits today, with their bench contributing 50 points in a decisive 120-98 victory over the 2nd seeded Bucks at home. This victory seals the Eastern Conference first-round series 4-2, marking their first advancement to the second round in a decade.
Breaking a Five-Year Stalemate
Since 2016, the Pacers had been halted in the first round of the playoffs for five consecutive seasons. Their last appearance in the second round was in 2014 when they fell to the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. This year, they broke the streak, becoming the first team to pull off an underdog victory. Their next challenge awaits against the winner of the Knicks vs. 76ers series.
Bucks’ Disappointing Exit
In the previous game, the Bucks managed to claw back with a resounding 115-92 victory at home, despite missing their star Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. However, with Lillard’s return today, they couldn’t muster the strength to turn the tide, bowing out in the first round for the second consecutive season.
Halftime Dominance
The Pacers displayed an impressive 50% field goal shooting in the first half, with Tyrese Haliburton leading the charge with 15 points and Aaron Nesmith adding 12. In contrast, the Bucks struggled with a team shooting percentage of only 35.6%, allowing the Pacers to take a commanding 59-47 lead into halftime.
Bench Boosts Pacers’ Lead
The Pacers’ bench continued to provide firepower in the second half, with Obi Toppin scoring 10 points in a single quarter and T.J. McConnell adding 5. With contributions from multiple players, the Pacers led by as much as 13 points in the third quarter. In the final period, McConnell and Ben Sheppard scored consecutively, widening the gap to 20 points, making it difficult for the Bucks to mount a comeback.
Stellar Performances
Haliburton finished the game with 17 points and 10 assists, while Pascal Siakam contributed 19 points. Four out of the five Pacers starters scored in double digits, but it was the bench that made the biggest impact, outscoring the Bucks’ bench 50-10. Toppin led the bench scoring with 21 points and 8 rebounds, while McConnell added 20 points.
The Bucks were led by Lillard’s 28 points, with Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis each scoring 20 points. Middleton contributed 14 points to the effort.(747Live)
| Statistic | Pacers | Bucks |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goals Attempted | 46/85 | 35/83 |
| Field Goal Percentage | 54.1% | 42.2% |
| 3-Point Field Goals Attempted | 13/40 | 7/27 |
| 3-Point Field Goal Percentage | 32.5% | 25.9% |
| Free Throws Attempted | 15/17 | 21/32 |
| Free Throw Percentage | 88.2% | 65.6% |
| Total Rebounds | 44 | 40 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 7 | 15 |
| Defensive Rebounds | 37 | 25 |
| Assists | 33 | 19 |
| Blocks | 3 | 0 |
| Steals | 7 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 10 | 12 |
| Points in the Paint | 60 | 46 |
| Personal Fouls | 26 | 18 |
