INDIANAPOLIS – The Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers resume their rivalry with the start of their second consecutive first round playoff series at Gainbridge Fieldhouse this afternoon.
The Bucks shot an atrocious 12% from behind the three-point line in the first half and trailed 67-43 at the break. The Pacers, meanwhile, got whatever they wanted offensively and made 61% of their total shots and 41% of their three-pointers. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 19 points on 7 of 11 shooting but was just 5 of 11 from the free throw line. The rest of the Bucks were 10-for-28 (35.7%) overall.
Tyrese Haliburton was held to six points on 2 of 7 shooting, but Andrew Nembhard (15 points), Pascal Siakam (12) and Bennedict Mathurin (11) reached double figures for Indiana.
Milwaukee struggled offensively in the first quarter outside of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 12 points, as Indiana took a 33-25 lead after one. The Pacers were on fire, shooting 66% overall. Antetokounmpo was held to one assist as the rest of the Bucks were just 5 of 12 shooting and 1-for-5 from behind the three-point line. The Pacers led by 11 at one point.
The Bucks finished the regular season as the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference with a 48-34 record, thanks in part to a season-ending eight-game winning streak. They won those games without all-star point guard Damian Lillard, who was ruled out indefinitely with deep vein thrombosis in his right calf in late March.
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But, Lillard received excellent news this past week when he was cleared to return to the court and he may play in this series.
The Pacers were the No. 4 seed in the East with a 50-32 regular season record, including a 20-9 mark after the all-star break.
Is Giannis playing?
Yes. He ended the year managing pain in his left shoulder and right knee, but the MVP candidate is coming off another historic season in which he averaged 30 points per game on 60% shooting for the second straight year. He is the only player in league history to do that even once.
More: Milwaukee Bucks will need a healthy Giannis Antetokounmpo to power through the NBA playoffs
Is Damian Lillard playing?
No. He was ruled out for Game 1, and he said April 18 he is unsure of when he’ll feel ready to play in a game. But he did go through parts of practice April 17-18 and is ramping up towards a return to play.
“I’ve been playing some live contact,” he said before the team left Milwaukee. “Thankfully, like I said, I was able to be active and do some stuff and then I got cleared to be on the court, and I was able to do some hard workouts and do some conditioning and stuff like that. So we’ll see. The moment that I feel good about it, I’m not going to be waiting and all of that. The moment that I feel I can go, I’m going to go.”
More: Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard speaks on his incredible return after blood clot diagnosis
What time is the Bucks game?
Milwaukee and Indiana kick off the weekend of first round playoff games with a noon tip-off.
What channel is the Bucks game on?
The first round of the NBA playoffs are simulcast locally, so the game will be broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin with Lisa Byington, Marques Johnson and Melanie Ricks on the call. ESPN will also carry the game with Michael Grady, Stephanie White and Katie George on the call.
Bucks injury report
- Damian Lillard, out (return to competition, conditioning)
- Tyler Smith, out (right ankle sprain)
Bucks starting lineup
- Guards: Ryan Rollins, Taurean Prince
- Forwards: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kyle Kuzma
- Center: Brook Lopez
Bucks vs. Pacers odds, over/under
Indiana is a 5.5-point favorite over Milwaukee and the over/under is set at 224.5 points, per BetMGM.
