Despite Damian Lillard's return, Bucks' season ends in first round with Game 6 playoff loss to Pacers

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Despite Damian Lillard's return, Bucks' season ends in first round with Game 6 playoff loss to Pacers

Ben Steele, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel · Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Fri, May 3, 2024 ·

8 min read

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INDIANAPOLIS – The disjointed season for the Milwaukee Bucks is over after just six games in the playoffs.

The Indiana Pacers rode their fast pace and feverish home crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for a 120-98 victory on Thursday night.

That gave the Pacers a 4-2 victory in the series. They advanced out of the first round of the playoffs for the first time since the 2013-14 season.

The Bucks had a lot of ups and downs, including the midseason firing of head coach Adrian Griffin and the subsequent hiring of Doc Rivers.

In the end, Milwaukee couldn't overcome the injuries to stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard at the end of the season, though Lillard returned in Game 6 .

BOX SCORE: Pacers 120, Bucks 98

Damian Lillard returned from injury and scored a game-high 28 points in the Milwaukee Bucks' 120-98 loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series on Thursday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Lillard scored a game-high 28 points. Tyrese Haliburton had 17 points and 10 assists for the Pacers, who also got great games from Obi Toppin (21 points) and T.J. McConnell (20).

"They're just a tough team," Rivers said. "Obviously we had guys out and all that. And that's hard.

"Just give them credit. I thought they played terrific."

Khris Middleton finally runs out of gas

Middleton had been carrying the Bucks' offense throughout the series . He put up 25 or more points in three straight games, including 42 points in Game 3 .

But Middleton, who also battled injuries to both ankles, seemed to run out of steam in Game 6. He scored just seven points in the first half on 3-for-10 shooting.

"I also thought bringing Dame back, in some ways, because (Middleton) was so exhausted, he was, like, you go do it," Rivers said. "And I thought that was great of him, but I thought we should have involved him way more."

Khris Middleton scored 14 points during the Milwaukee Bucks' 120-98 loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series.

He finished with 14 points on 6-for-15 shooting, subbing out of the game with just over five minutes remaining.

"Ankles are sore, but everybody's going through something in the playoffs," Middleton said. "If you can play, if you can play through it, got to go out there and play. No excuses about it.

"Just tonight, didn't have it. As a team, they came out and set the tone to be extra physical. Push the pace as much as they could, like they were trying to do all series. They were able to execute their game plan. We couldn't as much."

Pacers have massive advantage in bench points thanks to Obi Toppin and T.J. McConnell

The Pacers also had a clear advantage in depth.

The Bucks' bench players scored just one point in the first half – on a free throw from Danilo Gallinari.

The Pacers had 19 bench points in the first half, with all of them coming from Obi Toppin and T.J. McConnell.

Pacers starting center Myles Turner picked up his fourth foul early in the third quarter. While that usually be welcomed news for the Bucks, it just meant more playing time for Toppin.

By the time Rivers started putting in his deep reserves late in the fourth quarter, the Pacers had a 44-6 advantage in bench points. McConnell and Toppin combined for 41 of those points.

"They were huge," Rivers said. "I thought Toppin had a hell of a series overall. Just his energy, his speed, playing multiple positions allowed them to switch a lot of stuff.

"And T.J. is just a pain in the ass. He just really is. He didn't do great offensively for them (for the series), but he was a pest defensively. He does what he does."

Damian Lillard can't help three-point shooting woes

Middleton sank a three-pointer to get the Bucks within 71-61 in the third quarter.

That was the first triple for a Bucks player not named Damian Lillard. At that point, the Bucks were 4 for 17 from deep with Lillard going 3 for 9.

The Pacers didn't shoot the lights out. They were just 11 for 34 (32.3%) through three quarters.

But McConnell nailed a triple with 12.9 seconds left in the third quarter for a 93-79 advantage. That capped an 8-0 run by the Pacers to end the quarter.

McConnell added another three to start the fourth quarter and the home fans could sense the series victory. The Pacers' biggest lead was 24 points.

The Pacers finished 13 for 40 (32.5%) on threes, while the Bucks were just 7 for 27 (25.9%).

"They had home-court advantage," Bucks guard Malik Beasley said. "The crowd was rocking. It's a tough loss."

Now the Bucks have to reckon with a second straight exit in the first round.

"All we wanted to do was win and take it back to Milwaukee and hope we get Giannis next game," Beasley said. "It didn't happen. We just got to get our rest and get ready for next season, I guess."

SOCIAL MEDIA: Tyrese Haliburton trolls Pat Beverley on Twitter after Pacers eliminate Bucks in NBA playoffs

Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton reacts after throwing down a dunk as Bucks guard Malik Beasley looks for the inbound pass during Game 6 on Thursday night.

Five numbers

6Technical fouls on Bucks players in the series, including three on Bobby Portis

2014The last year the Pacers won a playoff series

3Times the Pacers have beaten the Bucks in the first round, including 1999 and 2000

5:13The first time rookie Andre Jackson Jr. checked into the game came with 5:13 left in game

9Missed free throws for the Bucks,

Is Giannis playing?

Giannis Antetokounmpo was listed as doubtful on the injury report on Wednesday. The two-time MVP strained his left soleus (calf) muscle April 9 and, though he has continued to get on the court, he hasn't done any live, full-speed activity. He has been listed as doubtful for the first five games of the series. Bucks head coach Doc Rivers didn't commit to a status update on Antetokounmpo before Game 6, but an updated injury report listed Antetokounmpo as out for the game.

Bucks record without Giannis

2-4 in the 2024 playoffs. Over his career, the Bucks are 5-6 in playoff games he misses.
4-6 in the 2023-24 regular season.

Is Damian Lillard playing?

Lillard was listed as doubtful on Wednesday's initial injury report, but the guard was upgraded to questionable on Thursday. Lillard sustained knee and Achilles injuries in Game 3 , but it was tendinitis — inflammation — in his right Achilles that kept him out of Games 4 and 5. Lillard then went through his pregame routine on the Gainbridge Fieldhouse court before Game 6, and the Bucks upgraded Lillard's status again to available.

Bucks vs Pacers preview

Bucks: Middleton is carrying the injury-riddled Bucks, averaging 26.8 points per game in the series. Milwaukee is hoping for another standout performance from Bobby Portis, who had a playoff career-high 29 points in Game 5.

Pacers:Indiana scored a season-low 92 points in Game 5. The Pacers made 22 three-pointers in their last home game in the eries.

Bucks vs Pacers odds, betting line, spread

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Wednesday

Spread: Bucks +6
Over/under: 216.5
Moneyline: Pacers -225; Bucks +185

Bucks vs Pacers prediction, game picks

ESPN Stats & Information gives the Bucks a 42.5% chance of winning.

Bucks vs Pacers injury report

Bucks

Giannis Antetokounmpo, doubtful (left soleus strain)
Damian Lillard, questionable (right Achilles tendinitis)
Khris Middleton, probable (right ankle sprain)
Pat Beverley, probable (right oblique strain)

Pacers

Bennedict Mathurin , out (right shoulder labral tear)
Tyrese Haliburton , questionable (back spasms)

Bucks probable starters

Guards: Pat Beverley, Damian Lillard
Forwards: Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis
Center: Brook Lopez

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

Date	Score
April 21	Bucks 109, Pacers 94
April 23	Pacers 125, Bucks 108
April 26	Pacers 121, Bucks 118 (OT)
April 28	Pacers 126, Bucks 113
April 30	Bucks 115, Pacers 92
May 2	Pacers 120, Bucks 98

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

TV channel: Bally Sports Wisconsin; TNT
Stream: You can stream the game on the Bally Sports Wisconsin and TNT apps.
Announcers: Lisa Byington, Marques Johnson and Melanie Ricks for Bally Sports Wisconsin and Spero Dedes, Greg Anthony, Stephanie Ready for TNT.

Bucks vs Pacers start time, TV info, location

Start time: 5:30 p.m. CDT.
TV info: Bally Sports Wisconsin and TNT.
Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Bucks eliminated from playoffs with Game 6 loss to Pacers

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