Bucks Revive Playoff Hopes with 117-101 Win over Pacers
In a crucial Game 3 matchup, the Milwaukee Bucks utilised a scintillating second-half performance to defeat the Indiana Pacers 117-101, as reported by ESPN.
The Bucks, seeking to revive their first-round playoff series, received a remarkable 37-point effort from Giannis Antetokounmpo, coupled with an incredible display from Gary Trent Jr., who tied a franchise playoff record with nine three-pointers and scored 37 points.
According to ESPN, Trent’s impressive performance was a result of his aggressive mindset, which earned him a rare start in the game. "My mindset was just to come in and get a win," Trent said. "I was trying to be all over [Pacers guard Tyrese] Haliburton to start the game, let him know you’re there and try to take him out of his game."
Bucks coach Doc Rivers attributed Trent’s start to his aggressiveness on both ends of the court. "There were two reasons," Rivers said. "The offensive part because he’s really aggressive and the defensive part because of his hands. We wanted somebody aggressive to attack Haliburton. I thought he did that."
The Pacers led 57-47 at halftime, but Trent’s three three-pointers early in the third quarter helped the Bucks pull even at 62. The Bucks subsequently took a 72-69 lead on Antetokounmpo’s three-point play and extended their advantage to 86-75 by the end of the quarter.
As noted by ESPN, the Bucks’ lead grew to as many as 20 points in the fourth quarter, with Trent finishing 9 for 12 behind the arc to tie Hall of Famer Ray Allen’s mark for most three-pointers in a postseason game. The Bucks outscored the Pacers 70-44 in the second half.
Antetokounmpo also contributed 12 rebounds for Milwaukee, which will host Game 4 on Sunday. A.J. Green scored 12 points, while Bobby Portis added 10 points for the Bucks.
Despite the win, Antetokounmpo remained focused, urging his team to stay humble. "We have to stay humble," Antetokounmpo said. "It’s just one game."
The Pacers, who had won five of their last six playoff games against the Bucks, were left reeling by their defeat. "We were bad on both sides of the ball," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "They were great, we were bad."
Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 28 points, while Aaron Nesmith scored 18 points. Tyrese Haliburton added 14 points and 10 assists.
The Bucks’ win was largely attributed to their dominant performance in the second half, where they shot 11 for 18 from three-point range, compared to 4 for 23 in the first two quarters.
Meanwhile, Bucks star guard Damian Lillard struggled, scoring just seven points on 2-of-12 shooting, including 1-of-8 three-pointers.
According to ESPN, the Bucks will look to build on this crucial win in Game 4 on Sunday, as they seek to level the series and stay in the playoff contention.
