Injury Woes for the Bucks
Entering the postseason as the third seed, the Milwaukee Bucks found themselves without three key players in Game 4 of the first round. Star players Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard were sidelined due to injuries, while starting forward Bobby Portis was ejected from the game in under seven minutes after receiving two technical fouls for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Pacers’ Record-Breaking Performance
Despite missing their top players, the Bucks managed to keep pace with the Indiana Pacers in the first quarter, ending the period tied at 33 points each. However, the Pacers seized control in the third quarter with a dominant 31-21 run. Their outside shooting was particularly impressive, as they set a new franchise record with 22 made three-pointers in the game.
Portis’ Ejection
Portis’ ejection came early in the first quarter after an altercation with the Pacers’ Andrew Nembhard. The incident occurred when Portis and Nembhard engaged in a physical altercation under the basket, resulting in both players receiving technical fouls. Portis then received an additional technical foul, leading to his ejection from the game with just four points and three rebounds to his name.
Balanced Scoring for the Pacers
The Pacers displayed balanced scoring with six players scoring in double digits. Center Myles Turner led the team with 29 points and nine rebounds, including an impressive performance from beyond the arc, where he shot 7-of-9. Tyrese Haliburton also contributed 24 points, including five three-pointers, to the Pacers’ offensive onslaught.
Bucks’ Efforts Fall Short
Despite the Bucks’ best efforts, they were unable to overcome the Pacers’ offensive firepower. Brook Lopez led the Bucks with 27 points, followed by Khris Middleton with 25 points and 10 rebounds. Malik Beasley added 20 points off the bench, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Bucks from falling to a 126-115 defeat.
Looking Ahead
With the Pacers now holding a commanding 3-1 series lead, the Bucks find themselves on the brink of elimination. Barring a miraculous comeback, the Pacers are poised to advance to the next round, while the Bucks will need to regroup and evaluate their options moving forward. (Panalo999)