The writers who cover Indiana agree the 110-102 loss in Milwaukee was decided after halftime, by cold shooting and Bucks offensive rebounds. The box score supports the shooting story, and the injury list explains part of the rebounding one.
Where the shots went cold
The Indianapolis Star's Dustin Dopirak counted the Pacers at 3 of 22 from three after halftime, with Tyrese Haliburton 2 of 5 and Aaron Nesmith owning the only other make. Fieldhouse Files tallied 17 fourth-quarter points, 4 of 22 from the floor, and noted Haliburton was without an assist deep into that period. Forbes' Tony East called the offense awful after a normal first half. The quarters agree: 29 and 32 before the break, 24 and 17 after. Haliburton still finished with 9 assists and scored 7 of Indiana's fourth-quarter points, Pascal Siakam 6 more. When the extra pass stops, someone else has to make shots, and Jarace Walker went 3 of 12.
Second chances and a missing center
Dopirak wrote that Milwaukee grabbed 12 offensive rebounds after halftime against 13 Indiana defensive rebounds. East logged the Bucks scoring second-chance points on two straight trips after the Pacers had cut the lead to 3. Kel'el Ware pulled down 14 rebounds in 19 minutes off the Milwaukee bench. Indiana closed with Jay Huff at center, and he finished with 6 rebounds in 23 minutes, while Ivica Zubac sat with his left ankle. Fieldhouse Files also noted three blocks by Myles Turner against his former team. The rebound count is the outlets' tally. Zubac's absence is on the injury list, and his ankle tag has since been upgraded, with October 28 as his projected return.
How short the bench is
Fieldhouse Files called it a shorthanded loss on the second of two straight nights, and East saw good things from the depth early. The injury list backs that framing. Andrew Nembhard's back and T.J. McConnell's right hamstring also point to October 28, Ben Sheppard's left knee to December 1 and Johnny Furphy's right knee to January 2. Nesmith was cleared. Obi Toppin scored 14 off the bench, but bench points totaled 30 against 70 from the starters, and Kobe Brown and Quenton Jackson have each gained nine or ten minutes a night with teammates out. ESPN bills Wednesday against Philadelphia as a conference showdown. The 76ers are 3-1, with Joel Embiid's right heel and VJ Edgecombe's abdomen both tagged. Whether Zubac and Nembhard can play will tell more than any shot chart.
Why did the Pacers lose to the Bucks?
Indiana led 61-50 at halftime, then was outscored 60-41 over the last two quarters as its shots stopped falling. The Indianapolis Star also counted 12 Milwaukee offensive rebounds after halftime.
Will Ivica Zubac play against the 76ers?
His left ankle tag has been upgraded from out, and his projected return date is October 28, the night of the 76ers game. He has not been confirmed to play.
