Numerous NBA analysts have predicted that the Milwaukee Bucks won’t be able to advance far in the Eastern Conference playoffs without Giannis Antetokounmpo. They just defeated the Indiana Pacers 109-94 in Game One, proving all their skeptics wrong. Milwaukee was led by Damian Lillard, who scored 35 points during the victory.
For Milwaukee to move on to the second round, they need to win three more games. In the highly anticipated series, they will play the Pacers in Game Two on Tuesday night. If the Bucks are going to have any success in the postseason without Antetokounmpo, they need to continue playing like they did in Game One.
Milwaukee Bucks were ecstatic to defeat the Pacers 109-94 in the first game
During the opening few minutes of play, neither team let the other get the better of them. Milwaukee went on a 10-2 run with under two minutes remaining in the first quarter to take a nine-point lead into the second. The Bucks dominated the Pacers 39–21 in the second quarter. During that second quarter of play, Milwaukee shot 50% from outside the arc and 62% from the field. Milwaukee led by an incredible 27 points at halftime, thanks to the scoring of 16 of Lillard’s subsequent 39 points.
Lillard went all out in the first half, scoring an incredible 35 points in the first two quarters while also grabbing three boards and dishing out two assists. Pascal Siakam scored 19 points, grabbed five rebounds, and had a block to lead the Pacers. In the first half of his postseason debut, Tyrese Haliburton only scored seven points. Milwaukee’s first-half success was largely attributed to their shooting. The Pacers made only 17 percent of their three-point tries and only 36 percent of their field goals, while the Bucks shot 51 percent from the field and nearly 42 percent from three. In contrast to Indiana’s seven turnovers in the first half, the Milwaukee Bucks only made two.
The Pacers Try to Rebound The Bucks Hold It Down for the Win in the Third Quarter
Indiana returned in the second half with the intention of adding intrigue to the match. They fired 44 percent from the field compared to the Bucks’ 33 percent, cutting the gap to just 12 points. During this quarter, Milwaukee failed to make any of their seven attempts from beyond the arc. While just three Bucks scored in the third quarter, Khris Middleton scored eight points in the period, making all four of his attempts. Brook Lopez only scored two points, while Bobby Portis Jr. scored four on two of six shots.
Milwaukee took care to ensure that they would win this first game. They put on a show in the fourth quarter, and even though they only had a twelve-minute lead over the Pacers at that point, their excellent shooting was what won them the game once more. With two minutes remaining in the game, the final score of 109-94 was determined. Neither team was able to make a shot, and the Milwaukee Bucks secured a well-deserved victory.
Damian Lillard had 35 points in the first half, but he was unable to convert any of his five shots. In the victory, the Bucks point guard also ended with three assists, six rebounds, and six rebounds. In Milwaukee’s victory, Khris Middleton recorded a double-double with ten rebounds and 23 points. With 36 points, Pascal Siakam led all scorers. He also pulled down 13 rebounds, gave two assists, stole a steal, and blocked two shots. Tyrese Haliburton finished with just nine points, including just two on one of three field goal attempts in the second half.
