Bucks
Bucks Erase 19-Point Deficit, Survive Pacers in OT 128-127
The Bucks blew a 19-point hole, tied it in the fourth quarter, and won in overtime 128-127 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Tyler Herro scored 25 and Pascal Siakam answered with 24 on 8-of-10 shooting, but Milwaukee's bench and paint work were the difference. It's preseason, so no standings impact, but it's an early look at how both rosters handle a track-meet pace.
By the Hoops Nightly Desk · updated 3 d ago01The story of the nightIndiana's 19-point cushion disappearsThe Pacers blitzed the second quarter 42-27 to take a 71-56 lead and their biggest cushion of the night at 19 points.
The Pacers blitzed the second quarter 42-27 to take a 71-56 lead and their biggest cushion of the night at 19 points. Milwaukee answered with a 34-22 third quarter to cut it to 90-93, then the two teams traded 27-24 fourth-quarter runs to tie it at 117. Both teams finished with 13 lead changes, and Milwaukee's biggest lead all game was only 6 — this was Indiana's game to lose, and it did, dropping overtime 11-10.
02Herro and Siakam carry their teamsTyler Herro led all scorers with 25 points on 10-of-16 shooting, including 5-of-7 from three.
Tyler Herro led all scorers with 25 points on 10-of-16 shooting, including 5-of-7 from three. Pascal Siakam was nearly as efficient for Indiana, going 8-of-10 from the floor for 24 points with 5-of-7 on threes and a plus-23. Tyrese Haliburton added 17 points and 6 assists. Milwaukee's bench punch came from Brayden Burries (14), Kel'el Ware (13) and Kevin Porter Jr. (11), while Indiana's Kobe Brown scored 14 off the bench on 4-of-14 shooting.
03Won in the paint and off the benchMilwaukee outscored Indiana in the paint 60-52 and got 68 points from its bench compared to 60 for Indiana.
Milwaukee outscored Indiana in the paint 60-52 and got 68 points from its bench compared to 60 for Indiana. The Bucks also turned the ball over less — 15 to Indiana's 21 — and turned those giveaways into 26 points off turnovers versus just 19 for the Pacers. Indiana shot better at the foul line (11-of-15 to Milwaukee's 7-of-16) and from the field overall (49.0% to 45.6%), but couldn't offset the turnover and bench gaps.
04What it means for each teamThis was a preseason game, so it carries no standings weight, but both sides got useful data.
This was a preseason game, so it carries no standings weight, but both sides got useful data. Milwaukee showed it can claw back from a 19-point hole behind bench scoring and ball security. Indiana will note that a 15-point halftime lead evaporated as turnovers piled up to 21 for the game, with Siakam and Haliburton doing their part but the supporting cast shooting inefficiently, including Brown's 4-of-14 and Jay Huff's 1-of-7.
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