Bucks-Pacers: 5 takeaways from pivotal Sport 4 – NBA.com

All of Indiana's key gamers contribute on an evening Milwaukee misses too a lot of their very own. Now the Bucks face elimination.
Steve Aschburner
With accidents limiting the Bucks, the Pacers feast by permitting the motion to develop as they stake a 3-1 sequence lead.
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INDIANAPOLIS – Because the Milwaukee Bucks misplaced participant after participant, but saved pestering the Indiana Pacers in Sport 4 Sunday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, they began to resemble Monty Python’s fabled Black Knight.
Alas, the “flesh wounds” inflicted by the Indiana Pacers ultimately proved too nice. Listed here are 5 takeaways from the 126-113 victory that put the Pacers up 3-1 within the best-of-seven series:
1. No Lillard, no Giannis, no probability?
It’s one factor to must compete with out two of your starters. It’s one other to lose 40% of the East’s All-Star beginning lineup on the worst attainable time.
That was the Bucks’ predicament Sunday. Giannis Antetokounmpo was unavailable from the beginning of the sequence resulting from a strained left calf muscle. Then Damian Lillard tweaked an already achy right Achilles tendon late in regulation of Friday’s Sport 3 time beyond regulation loss.
Add in Khris Middleton taking part in on a balky ankle and Bobby Portis’ ill-advised ejection within the first quarter of this one and the NBA’s acquainted “subsequent man up” battle cry was ringing slightly hole.
It’s debatable whether or not the Bucks had a respectable shot to steal the sport. It felt extra like an ethical victory and a testomony to the ten guys who performed for coach Doc Rivers within the first half that his workforce was inside three at intermission.
However Milwaukee’s final lead, 44-43, vanished in an 11-2 Pacers run within the second quarter. Indiana outscored the Bucks 31-21 within the third quarter and so they by no means obtained nearer than six – briefly – over the ultimate 18 minutes.
A valiant effort, notably by Middleton and Brook Lopez, who dusted off some “Brooklyn Brook” with low-post alternatives. However Indiana performed and appeared like a workforce certain for the following spherical.
2. No denying the Pacers’ many weapons
For Milwaukee to win the sport, it was crucial to muck issues up, maintain the rating within the 80s or 90s, and hope to get scorching from the arc. On the different finish, in fact, it meant making Indiana work onerous for every part.
None of that occurred. The groups mixed for 131 factors by halftime. The Bucks have been bizarre from deep (36.4%). In the meantime, the Pacers shot 22-for-43 on 3-pointers, a 51.2% clip virtually pretty much as good as their 2-point fee (52.2%).
Middle Myles Turner hit seven of his nine 3-point attempts, blocked three photographs, scored 29 factors and put Lopez on a digital poster.
MYLES TURNER THROWS DOWN THE MASSIVE POSTER 🤯🤯🤯
Bucks-Pacers | Sport 4 on TNT 🍿 pic.twitter.com/Iej1IJcnns
— NBA (@NBA) April 29, 2024

Guard Tyrese Haliburton hit three consecutive 3s to begin the third quarter and drive actuality on the Bucks. And Obi Toppin off the bench tormented them by beating them downcourt repeatedly for fast 2s.
Indiana’s potent offense placed on a showcase, even with solely seven fast-break factors. No matter Milwaukee tried to remove, coach Rick Carlisle and the Pacers sprung unfastened with one thing else.
“We have been simply scrambling,” Rivers mentioned.
3. From sixth man to invisible man
The dangerous manpower scenario was made worse when Portis, simply seven minutes into the sport, obtained right into a skirmish with Indiana guard Andrew Nembhard after a play. The 2 exchanged shoves, however Portis one-upped him with a slap to the top. That earned him two technical fouls to Nembhard’s one and, with that pair, an computerized ejection.
Portis was worthwhile sufficient for Milwaukee to complete third in Kia Sixth Man of the Year balloting. He has been beginning in Antetokounmpo’s spot, making him much more important. Then he exits early in maybe his workforce’s most essential recreation.
The veteran ahead’s famend fireplace burned himself and his workforce. Portis had riled up Indiana with some feedback after Sport 2, and right here he went too far once more.
“Emotion obtained one of the best of him,” Middleton mentioned. “Just about he’s finished an ideal job of taking part in near that line with out crossing over. Tonight, he simply crossed on the worst time for us.”
4. Who aced the audition?
With two starters out and Portis’ evening reduce quick, there have been lots of minutes freed up for different Bucks. Malik Beasley was again within the beginning lineup and scored 20 factors.
Of the others, younger guys Andre Jackson Jr. and A.J. Inexperienced obtained reward from Rivers and teammates. Jae Crowder and Danilo Gallinari mixed for eight factors with little influence.
5. Sport 5 as alternative, strain
Do the Bucks have a greater possibility than attempting to muck their manner again into the sequence?
Indiana is one victory away from reaching the East semifinals for the primary time since 2014. The Pacers had 5 consecutive first-round exits from 2016-20, and completed eleventh within the East final season.
For the Bucks, going house damage and underwater within the sequence was not a part of the blueprint. Including Lillard proper earlier than coaching camp sparked a giddy begin to the season. However points rumbled beneath the floor of the workforce’s 30-13 begin, sufficient to get coach Adrian Griffin fired, and Milwaukee has been determined to seek out itself all through.
Rivers mentioned the workforce gained’t danger working out Antetokounmpo or Lillard in the event that they’re not wholesome.
“We’re not going to place them in hurt’s manner. That’s No. 1,” Rivers mentioned. “And we’re going to play the blokes who’re able to play.”
Frankly, a flurry of accidents on the finish is likely to be the Bucks’ greatest shot at saving face now. Something in need of the convention finals was going to be a disappointment.
That’s seven victories away when profitable one is a battle.

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Steve Aschburner has written in regards to the NBA since 1980. You may e-mail him here, discover his archive here and follow him on X.
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Milwaukee already was taking part in with out the injured Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard when Portis was ejected.
Milwaukee was missing its prime 2 scorers in Sport 4 because it misplaced 126-113 to fall behind 3-1 within the sequence vs. Indiana.
Khris Middleton goes from questionable to spectacular in Sport 3, however Tyrese Halibuton delivers the time beyond regulation winner.
Middleton went from questionable resulting from damage to dominant with 42 factors in Milwaukee's slim time beyond regulation defeat in Sport 3.
Milwaukee already was taking part in with out the injured Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard when Portis was ejected.
Milwaukee was missing its prime 2 scorers in Sport 4 because it misplaced 126-113 to fall behind 3-1 within the sequence vs. Indiana.
Khris Middleton goes from questionable to spectacular in Sport 3, however Tyrese Halibuton delivers the time beyond regulation winner.
Middleton went from questionable resulting from damage to dominant with 42 factors in Milwaukee's slim time beyond regulation defeat in Sport 3.
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