Damian Lillard, Adrian Griffin speak on Pacers’ 47-point third quarter
Damian Lillard, Adrian Griffin speak on Indiana’s 47-point third quarter in Milwaukee’s 140-132 loss on Jan. 3 in Indianapolis.
INDIANAPOLIS – The Milwaukee Bucks lost for the fourth time in five games against the Indiana Pacers, concluding their regular season-series with a 142-130 defeat at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Wednesday night.
“I think the transition has been a big part of why the Pacers have been able to win so many games against the Bucks,” Bucks forward Khris Middleton said. “We haven’t played our best basketball yet. Didn’t play smart, sometimes doesn’t feel like it. “They take advantage of every situation in the half court and in transition.”
box score: Pacers 142, Bucks 130
It was the fifth consecutive win for the Pacers (19-14) and the second consecutive loss for the Bucks (24-10) and third in five games. The Pacers’ 142 points were the most points scored by a Bucks opponent this season. On November 1, Toronto scored 130 runs.
This is the second time this season the Bucks have lost consecutive games (November 9–11). The Bucks travel to San Antonio to play the Spurs on Thursday night.
“You’ve got to focus our attention on San Antonio,” Milwaukee head coach Adrian Griffin said. “We have to create a great game plan as a staff. They have to go out and execute. On the road in the NBA you have to perform, you have to bring it and I always say, no one should feel sorry for us. Who cares if we lose two in a row? We cannot pout, we cannot bow our heads. And that’s not the DNA of our group. We have people of high character. They will respond very well.”
The game turned in the third quarter when the Pacers outscored the Bucks 47–29, highlighted by a quarter-opening 21–6 run in which the Pacers turned on the gas and drove the Bucks down the floor for baskets. Milwaukee had a 68-66 lead at halftime, and otherwise did a good job of keeping Indiana from dominating in passing areas.
“They came out of halftime and played very hard, set the tone, moved the ball, made some shots,” Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo said about the third quarter. He said, “We didn’t even take care of the ball. We have to do a better job coming out of halftime, setting the tone and attacking first. But we couldn’t do that tonight and that’s why he scored 47 points.”
The Pacers continued to show Antetokounmpo quick double-teams, but the Bucks often couldn’t take advantage in the half court.
Indiana led by 18 with 8 minutes 20 seconds left in the fourth quarter and although Milwaukee was able to make it 128–118 with 3:59 remaining, Tyrese Haliburton made a three-point pass to effectively end the threat of a full comeback. -Hit the back-to-back bucket. ,
Haliburton finished with 31 points and 12 assists. He was one of seven pacers to score in double figures.
The Oshkosh native sealed the win with a behind-the-back pass that led to a three-pointer by Myles Turner for a 139-122 lead with 1:56 remaining. Haliburton then signaled a timeout, as did Griffin, which meant the Bucks pulled their starters.
Antetokounmpo had another solid overall performance against the Pacers with 26 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. Damian Lillard had 23 points, Middleton had 19 and Brook Lopez had 16 points. Malik Beasley scored eight points. He hit his first 2 three-pointers but once again got into foul trouble while guarding Haliburton.
Damian Lillard still can’t find his way against the Pacers
If Antetokounmpo has found his way on the Pacers since 2020, Lillard has been lost trying to find him.
In his four games against Indiana this season, the Bucks point guard shot just 32% overall (22-for-68) and 26% (9-for-34) from behind the three-point line, averaging 20.2 points per game. game. With 5.8 support.
His scoring on Wednesday was just 6 of 18, including 2 of 8 from behind the three-point line. He also made nine free throws to score 23 points.
“I had some opportunities that I liked but I didn’t take advantage of them,” Lillard said. “I wouldn’t say it was a struggle because of him. Like I said I had opportunities that I liked but they didn’t work out. This is part of it.”
But even when Lillard was in Portland (albeit in very few games), the Pacers were still giving Lillard some problems. In five games against Indiana from 2020–22, Lillard shot just 33.8% overall and 30.2% from behind the three-point line, while averaging 18.4 points per game.
“You’re talking about guys who are once-in-a-generation players who are so good that they’ve helped redefine the game, that it would take an amazing effort to try to stop them. at allPacers head coach Rick Carlisle said before the game.
“I mean we had the better of Giannis last game (on Jan. 1) and he still had 30 points. It’s like trying to keep him under 50. It’s ridiculous how good he is. Lillard presents a different kind of problem. Playing with these types of players and this type of team you have to be willing to get in, charge and do things that a lot of players don’t really like to do.
Khris Middleton plays for Bucks despite wrist injury
Middleton began Wednesday with two injuries, right knee injury management and a left wrist sprain. The wrist sprain was a new injury, as Middleton had suffered several falls over the past week. He had surgery to repair a torn scapholunate ligament in his left wrist in the summer of 2022. He suffered a fall during that season, but played until his season ended due to a knee injury in the playoffs. He missed the first 20 games of last season due to rehabilitation from wrist surgery.
“It’s okay,” he said. “A little sore but I’ll be fine.”
He said he has no long-term concerns about the situation.
Middleton didn’t look bad on Wednesday as he led the team with 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting in the first half, including 2-3 from behind the three-point line. He also had four assists and four rebounds in the opening half.
Unfortunately for Milwaukee he didn’t score again until the fourth quarter when the game was pretty much out of hand. Middleton finished 7 of 13 from the floor for 19 points with seven assists and six rebounds.
Overall Middleton has been healthy this season, although he played his first 17 games under a minutes restriction. In 11 games since being cleared to play 30 minutes from December 7 to January. 1, Middleton averaged 18.5 points per game on 52.3% shooting overall, 40.4% shooting from behind the three-point line, and 90.9% shooting from the free throw line.
He also averaged 5.8 assists and 5.0 assists.
Middleton missed one game due to Achilles tendinitis but was otherwise kept out of only one game of the back-to-back. Milwaukee travels to San Antonio to take on the worst team in the Western Conference in the Spurs on Thursday night. The Bucks are 4-1 in games without Middleton.
Essential Reading: Bucks’ Khris Middleton opens up about going through his toughest year and bouncing back
did you notice?
On two occasions Damian Lillard thought he was going to the free throw line, but officials said the foul was on the floor, which angered him. In the first quarter Lillard thought he had a one-and-one situation by fouling Bruce Brown on a midrange shot. Then in the third quarter, Lillard contacted Brown as he rose up for a three-point attempt around a screen by Antetokounmpo. Lillard was also disappointed with the decision.
He eventually went 9 of 10 from the free throw line, but three of those attempts were due to technical foul calls.
This has been a frequent occurrence for the point guard, especially over the past few weeks. He averaged 8.5 free throw attempts per game through December 13 and 7.5 attempts per game since.
Is there a Bucks-Pacers rivalry? Oshkosh native Tyrese Haliburton says not yet
Two more technical fouls issued in Bucks-Pacers rivalry
This wouldn’t be a Bucks-Pacers game if tempers didn’t flare, but it took until the fourth quarter for two players to get technical fouls. Milwaukee rookie Andre Jackson Jr. and Indiana big man Isaiah Jackson tackled each other and jabbed back and forth after a foul on Giannis Antetokounmpo. The pair had to be separated, and Indiana’s Obi Toppin was eventually convicted of a technical foul, like Jackson.
In five regular season games, 14 technical fouls were issued on players and three were given to Griffin, who drew one in the third quarter.
Bucks vs Pacers: Why was Giannis angry at Indiana teammates after the December 13 game?
number 5
1 Shots by Giannis Antetokounmpo and total free throw attempts by the Bucks in the first quarter. Indiana led 33-31 after the first 12 minutes. Antetokounmpo: “We have to be better, everybody. It starts with me. I have to be better. I have to be more aggressive. I have to be more aggressive. Like, double teams can’t take me away from the game. I Tried to help as much as possible but I have to be more aggressive. The players have to play better. We have to perform better. We have to move the ball from side to side. We can’t do it on our own. Coach has to work harder. We have to get better. This game proves that to everybody. I don’t think anybody leaving this locker room tonight believes that we have to get better. So, it’s not a bad thing. It’s a good thing.”
3 Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin was called for technical fouls in two games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. He got one in the third quarter on Wednesday and was ejected after being called for two on November 9.
5-12 Offensive rebounds in the first half and second-chance points by the Bucks helped them take a 68-66 lead at the break. Milwaukee also scored seven points off five Indiana turnovers. Unfortunately for the Bucks, they added only two more second-chance points on four more offensive rebounds over the following three quarters.
19-3 The Bucks record when they are ahead or tied at the half. Their first loss in such a situation was in overtime on November 30 at Chicago (leading 55–49) and the second loss was against the Pacers on Monday (leading 62–56). Milwaukee led 68-66 at the break on Wednesday.
47 Points by the Pacers in the decisive third quarter. This was the most points scored in a quarter by a Bucks opponent all season, topping the 43 points scored by Detroit on November 8. Indiana shot an incredible 73.9% (17-for-23) in the quarter, including 4 of 8 three-pointers and 9 three-pointers. Of 10 free throws. The Pacers also scored four points off four Bucks turnovers.
bucks injury report
- Middleton, questionable (right knee injury management and left wrist sprain).
- Pat Connaughton, doubtful (non-Covid illness). Connaughton was warmed up and ready to go.
- Jae Crowder, outside (left adductor surgery) Crowder is approaching eight weeks from his surgery on Nov. 14 to repair a torn adductor muscle. Since then his activity has gradually intensified.
- AJ Green, out (nose fracture) Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin said Green broke his nose during practice on December 31. A procedure was considered because he did not play on Monday against Indiana, but he will rejoin the team for the Spurs game on Thursday. , However, Green is familiar with the injury. Last season, he broke his nose while practicing with the Wisconsin Herd on October 28 and had surgery on November 1. Green returned to action on November 16.
What happened between the Bucks and Pacers?
This has been an interesting season series. First, Antetokounmpo scored 54 points on November 9 at Indiana, but the Bucks missed a double-digit lead in the loss. The Pacers then eliminated the Bucks from the in-season tournament with a victory in the semifinals on December 7 in Las Vegas.
On December 13, Antetokounmpo set a franchise record with 64 points, but this led to several heated conversations after the game between players and staff of both teams. The Bucks did not appreciate the Pacers players leaving the court without shaking hands, and miscommunication over the placement of the game ball was also part of the scene.
In the last game between the teams on Monday, the Pacers overcame two 15-point deficits to give Oshkosh native Tyrese Haliburton his first win as a professional in his home state.
