Bucks shut down Pacers over the final three quarters to extend series, 115-92

An energized starting corp from Milwaukee, including fan-favorite Bobby Portis, manhandled the Pacers in Game 5 | Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Despite the glaring absences of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, Bobby Portis and Khris Middleton made sure the other players helped them beat up a stunned Pacers squad

Milwaukee’s 18-2 run spanning the first and second quarters outdid Indiana’s previous 13-2, and the Bucks put their foot down in a dominant second half – surviving to see Game 6 of this first round series 115-92, The Pacers assisted on nine of their opening ten field goal makes along with confidently hitting 7 of their first 12 three attempts to stake themselves to a comfortable lead in the first quarter. That advantage dissipated like vapor in a matter of moments at the start of the second quarter under a barrage of botched possessions and the Bucks’ veterans scoring enough to make Indiana pay. Despite that hot shooting start from distance, the Pacers ended 12-38 from three – withering under the dogged perimeter defense from Milwaukee.

Bobby Portis (29 points and 10 rebounds) and Khris Middleton (29 points and 12 rebounds) were the head of a potent attack that saw all starers get to double figures and comprised 88% (101 out of 115) of their production tonight. A hobbled Pat Connaughton (9 points and 4 assists) gave the others important bench support and Pat Beverley’s best Avery Johnson impression (13 points, 12 assists, 2 steals) stabilized Milwaukee on both ends. Malik Beasley’s (18 points and 3 steals) hot second half helped assure the winning outcome for the Bucks. Tyrese Haliburton (16 points and 6 assists) led a balanced Pacer attack that scored only 61 points total after a red-hot first quarter.

A hot-shooting opening frame from Indiana allowed them to go up eight. As expected, much of that initial success came from behind the arc from a handful of sources, including rookie Ben Shepperd and Doug McDermott. The Bucks, by necessity, found offense from wherever it could and relied heavily on its veterans like Portis (7 points). Milwaukee ended the quarter down 23-31.

Indiana started to show the signs of the immense pressure to close out a series in the second period and relinquished their lead quickly. Portis and Middleton figured most prominently in their decisive comeback this quarter, and the other contributors, Beverley, Connaughton, and a heavier minutes for Danilo Gallinari cowed the jittery Pacers. During one impressive possession, the Bucks shooed Haliburton off the three point line and he airballed his shot well-short. Milwaukee went into the break up 53-48.

If the Bucks somehow come back to win this series, the opening of the floodgates will have started in the third period with this 11-2 run: Beasley layup, Middleton three, Portis jumper, Middleton layup, and Portis jumper. Many of the Pacers’ offensive sets turned into difficult 1-on-1 drives. A pair of Beasley threes set up deftly by Beverley put Indiana down 19. After the damage was done, Indiana left the third in a 20 point hole.

Observations

I somehow couldn’t find TruTV on my setup as the PHI/NYK game went into overtime and pre-empted the telecast of this game.
Could a Doc Rivers-coached team WIN a playoff series that it starts down 3-1?
Finally caved in to all of the Wingstop commercials and… went to Popeyes.
It ONLY seems like TJ McConnell hits those shots against the Spurs.
The TNT announcer Spero Dedes kept on referring to the Bucks’ vet Gallinari as “GAWLLY NAH-REE”
Pascal Siakam looks like a shell of himself compared to the game I recapped.
‘Beautiful Game’ Sequence of the Game: After a Connaughton steal, he found Middleton in the corner, who re-directed it to Portis at the dunker spot. Portis swung it out to Connaughton in the corner who missed the three – only for it to fall to Beverley, who found Lopez going down the lane for a floater. Beverley swiped the ball away from McConnell at the other end, and found a streaking Portis for a lay-up to make it 72-57.
A 15-2 run by the visitors stunted a solid Milwaukee start and put them down nine. Shepperd was a key part of the Pacers’ seven first quarter threes. Former Spur McDermott’s three put Indiana up ten. Portis’s shotmaking kept the Bucks in striking distance late in the period and they were fortunate to be down only eight.
Milwaukee took advantage of the Pacers’ scoring drought by closing the gap quickly – led by Portis’ two quick buckets. Middleton’s corner three put the Bucks back in the lead. Beverley and OB Toppin got into it after a deadball situation, and Beverley’s 3-point play put Milwaukee up six. Beverley’s confident wing three was answered by Andrew Nembhard ‘s three. A confident Bucks squad exited the first half up 53-48.
Malik Beasley stole an entry pass and took it coast to coast for a lay-up. Middleton’s catch-and-shoot three started a third quarter onslaught for Milwaukee. Nembhard and Shepperd’s efforts kept the Bucks from blowing the barn door wide open sooner. Milwaukee stole the ball on two straight possessions and converted transition buckets on each to buckle the alrady shaky Pacers. Two Beasley threes caused him to celebrate with a hindside-wiggle dance. The Bucks went into the fourth up 87-67 after Connaughton timed a Nesmith jumper perfectly and smothered it.
Beasley’s three and transition layup sandwiched a Lopez lay-in to make it 94-69, and the Pacers ultimately would fail to make that mark by the end. Indiana did mount a 7-0 run to force a Rivers timeout. The teams traded baskets for a chunk of the balance of the period. Portis willed home a hook shot over Siakam and did the ‘too small’ sign.