Bucks Stay Alive in Playoffs with Thrilling 117-101 Win over Pacers
The Milwaukee Bucks have kept their playoff hopes alive with a stunning 117-101 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 3 of their first-round series. The win, which was fueled by Gary Trent Jr.’s career playoff-high 37 points, including nine three-pointers, has cut the series deficit to 2-1.
According to Damian Lillard, who has been instrumental in convincing Trent to join the Bucks in the offseason, the team’s new recruit showed his true character on Friday night. "One thing I told the team when they were trying to get Gary here and I was trying to make that connection and bring him here was I told them this is one of the most confident players that I’ve played with," Lillard said after the game, as reported by The New York Times. "Unshakeable guy. His confidence is steady. His work ethic is steady. Very stubborn. And he’s a guy that’s not going to fold up when moments come. And he’ll be there."
Trent’s impressive performance, which tied the Bucks franchise record for most triples in a playoff game, was a significant factor in the team’s win. The 27-year-old shooting guard played 34 minutes, matching a number he only achieved nine times during the regular season, and took on the challenging defensive assignment of guarding Pacers All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton.
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers made a crucial decision to insert Trent into the starting lineup, replacing Taurean Prince, and it paid off. "We wanted somebody aggressive to attack Haliburton back," Rivers explained, as quoted in The New York Times. "I thought he did that. I thought that was great for us. And I like his defense on the ball."
The Bucks’ win was also fueled by Giannis Antetokounmpo’s impressive performance, which saw him score 37 points, grab 12 rebounds, and provide six assists. The duo of Antetokounmpo and Trent became the first pair in Bucks history to score 35 or more points in the same playoff game.
The team’s defensive effort in the third quarter was also crucial in securing the win. The Bucks outscored the Pacers 39-18 in the quarter, with Trent and Antetokounmpo leading the charge. "Physicality," Rivers said of his team’s third-quarter defense, as reported by The New York Times. "We got up, got our hands on them. Pressured. Got deflections."
The Bucks’ victory has set up a thrilling Game 4 on Sunday at 9:30 p.m. ET at Fiserv Forum. As The New York Times notes, the team will need to continue their physical defense and sharp shooting to stay alive in the playoffs.
AJ Green, who scored 12 points and provided four assists, echoed the team’s sentiments. "This was a must-win, really the biggest game of the year," he said, as quoted in The New York Times. "Can’t go down 3-0, can’t lose at home. I just loved what we did in the second half."
As the Bucks look to even the series, they will need to build on their momentum from Game 3. With Trent’s impressive performance and the team’s renewed defensive effort, they may just have a chance to pull off a remarkable comeback.
The Bucks’ next game will be crucial in determining their fate in the playoffs. As Antetokounmpo noted, "I’ve been with the Bucks for a long time. I’ve never seen a guy make nine 3s in a playoff game." Trent’s performance will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the highlights of the series, and the team will look to build on that momentum moving forward.
For more information, visit The New York Times.
