Pacers fend off Bucks’ late rally, lead series 2-0

Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton each had a double-double as the Indiana Pacers withstood a late rally to beat the Milwaukee Bucks, 123-115, in Indianapolis for a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series on Tuesday, April 22  (Wednesday, April 23, Manila time).

Siakam had 24 points and 11 rebounds while Haliburton had 21 points and 12 assists for fourth-seeded Indiana, which never trailed. The best-of-seven series shifts to Milwaukee for Game 3 on Friday, April 25.

“We’ve done our job and that’s all we’ve done,” Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said. “We’ve protected home court. Now the scene shifts and their building will be wild on Friday and Sunday. We have to be prepared.”

The Pacers led by 15 before Bucks star Damian Lillard hit a three-pointer to cap a 13-0 run and cut the deficit to 115-113 with 2:33 remaining.

After Siakam’s trey ended the run on the Pacers’ next possession, Siakam and the Bucks’ Bobby Portis were issued technical fouls. Andrew Nembhard helped to secure the victory with a three-pointer that put Indiana ahead, 121-113, with 1:11 left.

“We were fortunate tonight,” Carlisle said. “We slowed down in the fourth quarter and we got into a lot of isolation stuff instead of moving the ball the way we’re capable of. Credit Milwaukee for a switching defense that got us up against the clock. We’re gonna have to do better there.”

Nembhard finished with 17 points, Aaron Nesmith added 16, Myles Turner had 15 and Bennedict Mathurin scored 14 off the bench. The Pacers shot 48.9% from the field and 44.4% (16-of-36) from three-point range.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led fifth-seeded Milwaukee with 34 points, 18 rebounds, and 7 assists. 

Portis posted 28 points and 12 rebounds off the bench, Lillard added 14 points and Kyle Kuzma had 12 points. 

The Bucks shot 50.6% from the field and 40% (14-of-35) from beyond the arc, but committed 16 turnovers.

Lillard was 4-of-13 shooting from the field and played 37 minutes in his first game since March 18 after being out with deep vein thrombosis in his right calf.

Indiana opened the game with 11-of-14 shooting from the field and led 31-16 with 4:43 left in the first quarter.

“We’ve gotten off to two poor starts,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers said. “We’ve gotta make an adjustment there for sure.”

The Pacers held a 40-30 advantage at the end of the fast-paced first period and led by 14 with 5:34 left in the second quarter. Milwaukee rallied to cut the lead to four and trailed 68-60 at the half.

Haliburton led the Pacers with 16 points in the first half, while Antetokounmpo and Portis had 14 apiece for Milwaukee.

Indiana began the second half on a 10-2 run and led 83-69 after Nembhard made two foul shots with seven minutes left in the third quarter.

Milwaukee’s Kevin Porter Jr. hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to end the third period and cut the deficit to 99-87. – Rappler.com