Indiana Pacers 136 vs 123 Milwaukee Bucks summary: stats and highlights | NBA

The Indiana Pacers went into Milwaukee without their top scorer, and shocked the league leading Bucks on Thursday night at Fiserv Forum. Andrew Nembhard led a Pacers side that had eight players in double digits in the 136-123 win.

Pacers made it work without Haliburton

Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks had won 21 of their last 23 games as they skyrocketed to the top of the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee returned home after a successful three game west coast swing, and going up against the lowly Pacers, it was no secret that Bucks were heavy favorites. Tyrese Haliburton sitting on the bench in street clothes only worsed the odds for Indy.

The Bucks came out firing after getting a couple days off before making their return to the Fiserv Forum. They wasted no time jumping out to a double digit lead in a 40 point first quarter.

Everything was going smoothly until Giannis picked up his third foul in the second quarter, and while it didn’t have an immediate affect it would take it’s toll on Milwaukee. The Bucks went to halftime with a nine point lead as Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis picked up the slack with the Greek on the bench.

Indiana flirting with the Play-In

Indiana came out scorching in the third quarter, hitting on 8/13 three pointers and posting 46 points in the 12 minutes after the break. On top of the shooting spree, Giannis picked up his fourth foul just two minutes into the second half. He missed a big chunk of the quarter and spent the night walking on eggshells when he was on the court.

Up by three going into the final stanza, the Pacers still had their work cut out for them, but Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith took the stage and carried Indiana to a as much as an 18 point lead in the fourth quarter. Nembhard ended the game with 24 points, while Nesmith went 6/9 from downtown in his 22 point night. The game was still within reach with under two minutes to go but Myles Turner capped the game with a posterizing slam on Giannis to bury the Bucks.

The Bucks momentary lapse won’t cost them the top spot in the East or strip them of title league leaders, but it will make them scratch their head and refocus for the remaining month of the regular season. The Pacers need every win they can get, and this can be considered a huge win in a game that everyone had them written off. They now sit just a half game out of the 10th and final Play-In position currently held by the Washington Wizards.

Myles Turner cocked it back and put a two time MVP on a poster to bury the Bucks late on.

Turner had two big buckets late in the fourth quarter. This was one of them... Wait until you see the other one.

Indiana drilled 21 threes, to come within one of a franchise record. They were short of the record, but they will take the much needed win.

The Pacers came into the second half down by 9, but they came out scoring from long range in the 3rd quarter. Indiana went 8/13 from deep in the 12 minutes after the break.

Nesmith had 22 points on the night, 18 of those came from behind the arc.

Nesmith hit six threes on a night in which the Pacers where firing on all cylinders from downtown.

George Hill used to play for Milwaukee so making a home coming of the sorts and stealing a win must have been nice for the veteran.

Tyrese Haliburton was out for the Pacers, so it was up to everyone else. What did everyone else do? Eight of the ten players who played posted double digits.

The Bucks posted 40 points in the first quarter, but Buddy Hield kept his side in it with 12 points to open the game.

Turner got the Pacers going from long range, and that was just a glimpse of what was to come from IND, especially in the second half.

IT'S ALL OVER!!! THE PACERS SHOCK THE BUCKS IN MILWAUKEE WITH A FANTASTIC SECOND HALF!!!

Wigginson on the finger roll as the subs are in for both teams.

Heild with another three ball and that's the 22nd long ball of the night for the Pacers!

Leonard to the line and he hits one of two as we creep under 2:00 to go in the fourth.

TURNER JUST COCKED IT BACK AND STUFFED IT IN GIANNIS FACE TO SEAL THIS GAME!!!

Holiday at the line and he hits one of two from the stripe.

Turner with the spot up three ball and the Pacers lead by 15 points in Fiserv Forum!

McConnell going at Giannis and he gets the scoop lay up to go out of the TO.

We've got a timeout in Milwaukee with 3:39 to go in the 4th!

Giannis spinning to the iron and stretches for the slam dunk!

Giannis to the line, and he hits both FTs.

Nembhard going into the body of Giannis and getting the hanging lay up to go.

MIddleton gets into the paint off the dribble and hits the floater.

Nemhard out of the timeout and he goes reverse around Portis on the baseline .

Nembhard working a two man game with Smith and it leads to an open three that his sticks to force a timeout from Milwaukee with under 6:18 to go in the fouth.

Middleton at the line and he hits both FTs.

Nesmith on the pump fake and the step back and he's got 6 threes!!!

McConnell on the elbow jumper again. We have seen that time and time again tonight.

INgles bangs home a corner three and it's back to a six point game!!!

Giannis to the line and he hits one of two FTs

Nesmith on the turnaround fader in the lane to extend the lead back to 10.

Giannis gets the lay up to drop despite what appeared to be a block by Smith.

Hill in the corner for three out of the timeout and the lead is up to 10!!!

Nemhard showing terrific poise around the rim and he finishes the lay up in traffic.

TO Bucks with the Pacers leading by 7.

Hill fouled by Matthews and he hits both FTs

Nembhard going strong to the rack gets the bucket and one! FT is no good.

Matthew on the pull up jumper and he sticks the three!

Great dish from Nwora and that freed up Smith for the short range effort!

Giannis at the line to start the fourth quarter and he hits one of two.

WE ARE HEADED TO THE FOURTH QUARTER AND THE PACERS ARE LEADING THE TOP TEAM IN THE LEAGUE AFTER A 49 POINT 3RD QUARTER.

McConnell on the pull up jumper from the elbow and the Pacers lead is 3.

The Pacers lead for the first time since their first bucket of the game after the Nwora three ball!!!

The former Buck forces a Milwaukee timeout with under a minute to go in the third.

McConnell running the break and he hit a streaking Hill for the jam!

Smith going to the line after the Matthews foul, and he hits both.

Hill gets the lay up to go off the Nwora assist.

Holiday on the finger roll right down main street.

Hield with a catch and shoot three ball and the lead is back to 6.

Ingles hits two FTs after the Hield foul.

Portis to the line after the Nesmith foul and he drops both FTs.

McConnell is starting to heat up, he got the short pull up to go and we have a five point game.

Holiday puts his head down and gets the lay up in traffic.

McConnell gets to the iron and lays it up and it on the right side.

Leonard on the three ball to answer the string of three from the Pacers.

Nesmith on the step back and he jacks the three and hits it in the face of the defender.

Nesmith with a triple try from the same spot the Smith hit his!

Smith takes a step back and drills the three ball from the corner.

Holiday comes out of the timeout and hits a fade away from inside the paint.

Nwora drills the long two ball and the Bucks will take a timeout up 11 with under 6 in the third.

Portis gets another easy bucket after the Holiday dish. He's inching towards 10 assists on the night.

Turner on the pull up jumper from outside the lane.

Giannis rocking the rim on another attack to the rack!

Heild with the put back underneath after almost losing the ball.

Quick trigger three from Connaughton off the Holiday kick out.

Holiday gets the lay up to go to stop the mini Nembhard run.

NEMBHARD DROPS A SECOND STRAIGHT THREE!!!

Triple try from Nembhard at the top of the key off the spot up.

Portis at the line after the Nesmith foul and he hits two of two.

Nesmith going right at Giannis and he absorbs the contact and makes the bucket.

Holiday hanging in the air and flipping it up down the lane for the deuce.

ANother turnover leads to an easy Bucks dunk this time Nwora gave it away and Connaughton finished with a slam.

Timeout IND down 12 with under 10 to go in the third.

Giannis trailing the play and he sprints to the rack after the Holiday assist for the easy slam.

Giannis did it again. Same lob from Holiday and same reverse alley from Giannis.

Giannis just picked up his fourth with 10:28 left in the third quarter and Turner hits one of two as the Greek stays in the game.

Middleton with the lob over the top and Giannis streaking down the baseline for the baseline jam!

Nembhard going back to the bucket strong again and finishing strong again, this time he gets the foul on Middleton and goes to the line and missed the FT.

Nwora answers back with a three ball from the wing!

Holiday drills the three ball to get his second half going off on the right foot.

Nembhard with a strong drive and gets the bucket while sending Giannis to the floor.

WE ARE BACK UNDERWAY FROM MILWAUKEE!

Everyone was getting involved including Leonard who skiied to the bucket after the Holiday dump off.

Giannis picked up his third foul early in the second quarter, but Middleton and Portis picked up the slack. Khris is at the break leading the Bucks with 12 and Bobby has 10.

ingles had three of the Bucks six first half threes to keep the home side at an arms distance of the Pacers.

Hield had 12 points after the first quarter, but he went into halftime stuck on 12.

Connaughton released after the rebound and Holiday found him for one of his 5 assists.

Giannis and the Bucks came back home after a road swing and didn't wait long to put on a shot for their Fiserv Fans

We are headed to halftime in MIlwaukee! The Bucks lead by 9 after the first two quarters.

Giannis had to sit after picking up his third foul, but Holiday and Middleton picked up the slack for the Bucks.

Connaughton sent to the line by Turner and he hits one of two.

Matthew cutting to the dish and gets the feed from Jrue Holiday.

Smith drains a three ball and the Pacers are keeping themselves in this game from downtown.

Big Jam from Meyer-Leonard again off the behind the back pass from Matthews.

Three ball from Nemheard and the lead is back under 10.

Dump off from Holiday and Myers-Turner skies for a posterizing slam.

MIddleton on the turnaround fader from outside the lane.

Smith with a trip to the line and he hits one of two FTs.

MIddleton with a eurostep in transition and he gets the lay up to go.

Nwora sends Middleton to the line and he hits both FTs.

Out of the timeout Smith gets a lay up after getting his own rebound off a missed three.

Carter on the assist this time and the Pacers take a timeout after a quick 5-0 run.

There is 6:24 left in the first half and the Bucks lead by 1.

Carter in the corner for three, and Indy can't leave him open!

Brissett gets the lay up on the Smith assist.

Portis on the mid range jumper on the baseline and his jumper is wet to start the game.

Nwora gets the floater in traffic to fall and we are all tied up.

McConnell with the pull up off the dribble from the mid range.

Giannis just picked up his third foul on Hill's drive to the bucket.

Smith to the line after the Giannis foul and he hits both FTs.

Giannis was tripped on his way to the iron and he goes to the line and gets one of two to drop.

Hill drills a second straight three ball and he's got 6 quick points.

George Hill with a three ball from the corner and the deficit is back to single digits.

McConell gets the pull up jumper from the mid range.

Giannis kicks it out to Matthews and he drills the corner three to start the second half.

Apologizes for the technical issures, but we are back and better than ever. The Bucks drop 40 in the fourth quarter and are shooting 62.1% from the field.

Giannis has 8 and 5 to lead the Bucks and IND's Buddy Hield leads all scorers with 12.

McConnell gets a much needed three ball to cut the lead to 7.

MIddleton on the pull up jumper and stretches the lead to 10.

McConnell with a drive to the rack and gets the finger roll to go.

Hield gets into the lane and gets the floater to drop.

Hield going strong to the rack and finishes with a flush.

Portis on a turnaround J in the paint and he's got a couple buckets already.

MIL got the offensive board after the Giannis missed FTs and it led to an Ingles three ball!

Giannis heading to the line after the foul on Turner but he misses both!

Nesmith was left wide open so he pulled the trigger and drains the three ball.

Holiday grabbed the board and hit Connaughton flying on the outlet and soaring for the jam.

Pacers take a timeout just four and a half minutes in to the game.

MIddleton on a turn around jumper in the lane and he is on the board for the first time tonight.

Giannis follows his own miss and gets the tip in to fall.

Nwora out of the timeout and he floats one in to break the run

Giannis with the pick six and he takes it down the court and tomahawks it. Bucks on an 8-0 run and Indiana need an early timeout.

Giannis going back to the rack and he goes reverse this time.

Portis gets one with his foot on the line for the deep two.

Giannis opens his account with a drive from the right side and lays it in off the glass.

Turner strings a three ball from the top of the key to get the Pacers night started.

WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM MILWAUKEE!!!

IND is looking for their first win at Fiserv Forum, but Connnaughton starts off with a dash to the rack and a lay up.

Jordan Nwora is on the floor to start the Pacers showdown against the Mavs after leading Indiana in scoring off the bench. Buddy Hield and Andrew Nembhard join him in the back court with Neismith and Turner downlow.

Khris MIddleton is back in the starting five after sitting out Milwaukees win against the Suns. That means the Bucks squad is back to full strength. Mike Budenholzer is going small to star the game with Portis as his banger down low.

MVGiannis

No one is surprised that Giannis Antetokoumpo is back in the running for the NBA MVP, and the race between him, Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid couldn’t be tighter. Jokic is averaging a triple double, Embiid gets 40 any time he wants to and Giannis is one of the top scorers and has the second most rebounds per night. Coming into the Pacers game is getting 31.5 points and 11.9 rebounds oh, and his team has the best record in the league.

Pacers pulling up

The Pacers were without their leading scorer Tyrese Haliburton for the two game series in Detroit, and it looks like the knee injury will keep him sidelined for a few more games at least. That means it will be up to Andrew Nembhard and the rest of the Pacers team to step up and make up for those missing 20.8 points.

Eastern Conference playoff picture

Taking a look at the Eastern Conference Standings, we see the Bucks at the top of the table with a record of 50-19. With their win over the Suns, they became the first team to reach 50 wins, and the first team in the league to officially qualify for the post season. They are 2.5 games in front of the skidding Celtics and 3.5 games up on the Sixers. The Pacers meanwhile, are currently in 12th place and sitting a game out of the 10th and final Play-In spot which is being occupied by the Washington Wizards. Things aren’t as tight as they are in the West, but just three games separate the 12th seed Pacers and the 8th seed Atlanta Hawks with four weeks left in the season.

Giannis back at Fiserv

Giannis Antetokoumpo has had games of 46 and 36 since coming back from a brief spell on the sidelines in which he missed three games. He is in MVP form, and more importantly for the Bucks and the city of Milwaukee, he has this team ready to take home court advantage throughout the playoffs. Giannis hasn’t played infront of his home fans since March 4th against the Sixers, and already had a big game against the Pacers once this year, so expect fireworks in his return to the Fiserv Forum.

Bucks are rolling

The Bucks wrapped up a three game West coast road trip with a win over the KD-less Phoenix Suns. Once again it was Giannis Antetokounmpo terrorizing the Suns defense, as he went for 36 and 11 rebounds in the 116-104 win. The Greek went to the line 24 times while the Suns went to the line just 16 times as a team. PHO coach Monty Williams and Devin Booker were not shy to express their disappointment in the way the game was called as their third straight.

Pacers coming off loss in DET

The Pacers played back to back games in Detroit and ended up splitting the series against the Pistons. They won the first game by a narrow margin, but Detroit got their revenge on Monday night with a twenty point win to drop the Pacers to seven games under .500. The Pacers suffered from a sluggish start in the first quarter that saw them go down by 18 and the Pistons never looked back from there. Tyrese Haliburton was sideline for both games in Detroit, which left Jordan Nwuoa having to pick up the slack with a Pacers high 20 points off the bench, but it wasn’t enough to erase the huge first quarter deficit.

We are live from Milwaukee

Hello everyone and welcome to Fiserv Forum where the Bucks are back under their own roof after winning 21 of their last 23 games to catapult to the top of the conference. Giannis Antetokounmpo has been spectacular this season, and has Milwaukee primed for another deep run into the playoffs. The Pacers are clawing at the teams currently in Play-In position with less than a month to go in the regular season. Every game matters from here on out, and if Indiana can steal one here tonight, that could spark a sense of belief in a team that has had little to believe in this year.

Pacers vs. Bucks

The leagues top team return home tonight looking to stretch their advantage overt the rest of the Eastern Conference. The Milwaukee Bucks have been in fantastic form since January, and look to continue that trend against an Indiana team that is starting to string some wins together for the first time in a long time. AS English will be with you all night long providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of tonight’s primetime matchup.