Indiana
Seven things to know about the Milwaukee Bucks playoff foe, Indiana Pacers
Rivers, Lillard and Middleton speak on playing the Pacers in playoffs
Doc Rivers, Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton speak on facing Pacers in playoffs. Rivers also spoke on the Bucks securing the Wayne Embry Trophy.
The Milwaukee Bucks have garnered the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference and will face the Indiana Pacers in the opening round of the NBA playoffs, beginning April 21. Here’s what to know about the first-round foe.
The Indiana Pacers likely starting lineup and reserves
Likely starters
- Tyrese Haliburton, 20.3 points per game, 4.0 rebounds, 10.9 assists
- Pascal Siakam, 21.1 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 3.8 apt
- Myles Turner, 16.9 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.3 apg
- Aaron Nesmith, 12.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.5 apg
- Andrew Nembhard, 9.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 4.1 apg
Off the bench
- T.J. McConnell, 10.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 5.5 apg
- Jalen Smith, 9.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.0 apg
- Obi Toppin, 10.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.5 apg
- Ben Sheppard, 4.4 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 0.9 apg
- Isaiah Jackson, 6.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 0.8 apg
Coach: Rick Carlisle (22nd year as head coach, 63-70 playoff record, 1 NBA title)
Regular season clashes between the Bucks and Pacers
Nov. 9: Indiana 126, Milwaukee 124. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 54 points, but the Bucks ran out of gas down the stretch and Indiana rallied back from 10 points down in the final seven minutes.
Dec. 7: Indiana 128, Milwaukee 119. The first NBA In-Season Tournament featured a trip to Las Vegas for the semifinals, where the Pacers got on a hot streak that included a high-intensity win over the Bucks. Milwaukee rallied for a fourth-quarter lead but again wilted down the stretch despite 37 points from Antetokounmpo and 24 from Damian Lillard.
Dec. 13: Milwaukee 140, Indiana 126. The lone Bucks victory in five tries against Indiana had a memorable postscript. Antetokoumpo set the franchise single-game scoring record with 64 points, but a dispute over the game ball elevated tensions between the two teams, even though it turned out to be somewhat of a misunderstanding.
Jan. 1: Indiana 122, Milwaukee 113. In a New Year’s Day showcase, the Pacers ended Milwaukee’s 15-game home winning streak with a comeback victory after facing two 15-point deficits. Indiana’s bench outscored the Bucks, 70-16. Antetokounmpo had a triple double in the loss.
Jan. 3: Indiana 142, Milwaukee 130. The Bucks found themselves in the midst of a losing rut with the defeat at Gainbridge Fieldhouse two days after facing off at Fiserv Forum. Antetokounmpo flirted with a triple double.
The Indiana Pacers’ best player is from Wisconsin, but you knew that already
From afar, it’s been impressive to watch Oshkosh native Tyrese Haliburton evolve into an NBA superstar, but now he represents a significant obstacle. The guard scored 20.3 points per game this year for Indiana and handed out 10.9 assists per game, leading the league. He turned 24 in February and already has two all-star appearances on his resume.
The Bucks and Pacers have just a teeny bit of history this year
The infamous battle for the game ball after a game in December certainly enflamed tensions between the two teams after some emotional basketball earlier in the season, though the ball wasn’t the centerpiece of the initial dispute.
For those who need a refresher, Antetokounmpo gave a passionate tongue-lashing to Haliburton after the game, initially upset that the Pacers had declined to shake hands in the aftermath of the Bucks win, a game where Antetokounmpo happened to score a franchise-record 64 points.
Alerted to the possibility that the Pacers also left the floor with the game ball, Giannis ran toward the Pacers locker room seeking the memento.
Even after the situation was defused, Antetokounmpo said he didn’t believe he’d been given the correct ball.
It wasn’t just the ball and handshakes, either. Haliburton’s use of the “Dame Time” celebration in the In-Season Tournament perhaps contributed to the dust-up, and the fact that Antetokounmpo checked into the game late while still pursuing the single-game scoring record seemed to sit poorly with the Pacers. Bobby Portis and Aaron Nesmith both received technical fouls in the game, and Portis was ejected.
More: Audio and video from after Bucks game suggests Pacers knew the gravity of taking game ball
More: Whose game ball is it anyway? Social media erupts after Bucks-Pacers postgame tussle
We know now that the correct game ball was in the hands of a Bucks official, but the confusion afterward led to high tensions in the tunnel after the game.
Halburton technically isn’t Indiana’s leading scorer, and there’s some playoff history there
In January, the Pacers acquired Raptors star Pascal Siakam from the struggling Toronto franchise in exchange for three players (including former Buck Jordan Nwora) and future draft picks. Siakam has delivered in his 40 games with the Pacers, averaging 21.1 points per game (even better than Haliburton’s scoring mark) with 7.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per contest.
Siakam has shot 38.4% from 3-point range with the Pacers, which would represent by far his best season from 3-point range if that were extrapolated over the full year.
Siakam scored 19 points per game for the Raptors in the 2019 postseason, a championship performance that included a win over the Bucks in the Eastern Conference finals. Siakam scored 14.5 points per contest in the Bucks series.
The Pacers are reasonably healthy, except for Bennedict Mathurin
Bennedict Mathurin, the 21-year-old rising star, tore his labrum and was ruled out for the rest of the season in March. He averaged 14.5 points and 4.0 rebounds over 59 games this season and was posting even better numbers after the all-star break before the injury.
This is Indiana’s first time in the playoffs in four years
The Pacers are in a bit of a playoff drought, having missed the postseason each of the last three years. Last year’s team went 35-47, so the jump to 47-35 was quite the flip. The Pacers went to the playoffs five years in a row from 2016-2020 … but lost in the first time each year. The last time Indiana won a playoff series was in 2014, when it appeared in the conference finals for the second year in a row.
The Bucks and Pacers have met twice in the playoffs, in 1999 and 2000. Indiana swept the earlier series, 3-0, and won the next year, 3-2, with a 96-95 outcome in the decisive game. Ervin Johnson didn’t miss a free throw in the final seconds when coach George Karl called for one, and Ray Allen’s 30-foot 3-point attempt at the buzzer was off the mark. Reggie Miller scored 41 points.
T.J. McConnell has a reputation as a Bucks killer
Reserve T.J. McConnell has a bit of a reputation for burning the Bucks, and he comes by it somewhat honestly. His career high in scoring came in 2023 against Milwaukee, a 29-point effort in a 132-119 Bucks win. He also posted his third-best scoring effort against the Bucks in 2021, a 142-133 Bucks win.
McConnell also has 19-point showings against the Bucks, both in 2023, tied for his 10th-highest scoring output. For his career, he averages 8.4 points per game, though it’s up to 10.1 this year in 18.2 minutes per game. All told against Milwaukee, his 9.7 points per game are the most against any team, and he shoots a whopping 48.1% from 3-point range (13 for 27) against the Bucks.
The Pacers are the kings of … pace, which is why they’re the highest-scoring team in the league
Nobody makes more baskets or shoots a better field goal percentage in the NBA this year than the Pacers, adding up to an NBA-best 122.9 points per game. Nobody hands out more assists, and no team allows fewer 3-point shots and attempts on defense.
But there’s a dark side. Indiana also allows 120.3 points per game (28th in the league) and ranks 30th in allowed field-goal percentage.
It all adds up to a team that plays at one of the fastest paces in the league, behind only Washington in that department. The Pacers aren’t going to overwhelm anyone on the glass, but they still take solid care of the basketball, ranking just ahead of the Bucks in turnover percentage with the two at No. 7 and No. 8 in the NBA. This isn’t a team that’s letting the shot clock dip, and they’re going to quickly take advantage of defensive lapses with ball movement.
CLOVERDALE, Ind. (WKRC) – Authorities in Indiana found a semi trailer loaded up with hundreds of pounds of suspected cocaine.
According to a statement issued by the Indiana State Police (ISP), 27-year-old Harmandeep Singh of Bakersfield, California was taken into custody after nearly 400 pounds of suspected cocaine were reportedly found in the trailer of a commercial truck.
Per the statement, an ISP trooper seized the suspected cocaine during a traffic stop on Interstate 70 in Putnam County, authorities said.
The stop occurred Tuesday morning near the 37-mile marker, just east of Cloverdale, after a commercial motor vehicle was observed exceeding the posted speed limit.
Police said Singh displayed several indicators of possible criminal activity during the encounter. After obtaining consent to search the vehicle, troopers discovered multiple duffel bags and cardboard boxes in the trailer containing approximately 392 pounds (178 kilograms) of suspected cocaine.
Authorities estimated the street value of the drugs at about $9 million.
Singh was taken into custody and taken to the Putnam County Jail, where he is being held on a $30,000 cash bond.
He faces the following preliminary charges, per the post:
- Possession of a narcotic drug
Formal charges will be determined by the Putnam County prosecutor.
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
Indiana State Police said drug interdiction remains a priority, with troopers focusing on major highways to disrupt the flow of illegal narcotics into the state.
For many Hoosiers living in rural Indiana, accessing health care can mean driving 30 minutes or even an hour to see a doctor or reach the nearest hospital. As workforce shortages and financial pressures challenge rural hospitals across the country, ensuring access to care close to home has become one of the most important health-care issues facing our state.
About one in four Indiana residents live in a rural community, yet access to health-care services in many of these communities continues to shrink. Across the nation, rural hospitals and clinics report extremely thin operating margins and often say workforce shortages and rising costs make it difficult to sustain services such as primary care, maternity care and behavioral health.
When rural communities struggle to maintain health-care access, the impact doesn’t stay confined to small towns. It ripples across the entire health-care system, contributing to increases in chronic conditions, reduced preventative care for children, and worsening outcomes for the sickest patients.
Communities such as Greater Lafayette serve as a regional hub for care, with hospitals like IU Health Arnett caring for patients from surrounding counties across north-central and west-central Indiana. That role is something we are proud to fulfill. But when rural residents must travel long distances for care that should be available closer to home, it places increasing pressure on emergency departments, specialty clinics and inpatient services at larger regional hospitals.
In many cases, what might have been a routine appointment, preventive screening or early diagnosis in a local clinic becomes far more serious by the time a patient reaches a larger hospital. A missed screening can escalate into a medical emergency.
That reality makes strengthening rural health care more important than ever — not just for rural communities, but for the health of the entire state.
One of the most important steps we can take is investing in the next generation of health-care professionals who will care for these communities.
At IU Health, we are working directly with local schools and community partners to help build that workforce pipeline. Across the region, IU Health has partnered with the Greater Lafayette Career Academy and area school districts to introduce students to health-care careers earlier and provide hands-on learning opportunities that bring those careers to life.
Through these programs, students explore health-care pathways and earn certifications such as certified nursing assistant, medical assistant or emergency medical technician while still in high school. Many participate in job shadowing opportunities, clinical experiences and mentorship programs, giving them valuable exposure to the field before they graduate. In fact, since the first cohort in 2023, IU Health has extended job offers to more than 70 students.
The goal is simple but powerful: help students see that meaningful careers in health care exist in their own communities and create pathways that allow them to stay and serve those communities.
For rural health care, this approach is critical. Students who train and develop personal mentorship connections locally are far more likely to remain in the region after completing their education. By helping young people build skills and connections early, we can create a sustainable workforce that strengthens health-care access in both rural communities and regional centers, including Greater Lafayette.
Since launching the $200 million Community Impact Investment Fund in 2018, IU Health has invested more than $40 million in community grants supporting workforce development, education and school-based programs that build Indiana’s health-care talent pipeline. This includes funding for the Indiana Latino Institute, which placed Latino students in health-care internships, supported career pathways, and provided medical interpreter training and college coaching to communities across the state.
Our goal is to make Indiana one of the healthiest states in the nation, and this is one way we work toward that in partnership with our communities.
But workforce development is only part of the solution.
Strengthening rural health care will also require continued collaboration between health-care providers, educators, community leaders and policymakers. Expanding telehealth access, supporting rural hospitals and investing in primary care and behavioral health services are all critical steps toward ensuring patients can receive care close to home.
Greater Lafayette will always play an important role as a regional health-care center, providing specialized care and advanced services for patients across a broad region. But the long-term health of Indiana’s health-care system depends on maintaining strong local access points for care in rural communities.
When rural clinics and hospitals can provide preventive care, manage chronic conditions and connect patients with the services they need early, the entire system works better.
Patients receive care sooner, communities stay healthier and larger hospitals can focus on the complex cases they are designed to treat.
Healthy rural communities do not just benefit the towns where they are. They strengthen Indiana’s entire health-care system by ensuring that every Hoosier — no matter where they live — has access to the care and resources they need to live healthier lives.
When rural health care succeeds, all of Indiana benefits.
Gary Henriott is a lifelong resident of Lafayette and the retired CEO and Chairman of Henriott Group. He is the chair of the IU Health West Region board of directors and the Wabash Heartland Innovation Network, and president of Lafayette’s Board of Public Works and Safety.
INDIANAPOLIS (WKRC) — An Indianapolis mother is now facing criminal charges after her 2-month-old baby died in an apparent improper co-sleeping environment, according to investigators.
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by FOX 59/CBS 4, police were called to an area hospital on Sept. 19, 2024, following the death of 27-year-old Brooklyn Davis’ son. The boy had been found unresponsive in his family’s home early that morning, and Davis attempted CPR before he was rushed to the hospital.
The affidavit says the boy had been sleeping on Davis’ bed with his 6-year-old brother. Davis later showed investigators a video showing the baby sleeping chest down on the 6-year-old’s chest.
An autopsy concluded the baby’s cause of death was “sudden explained death of an infant” with an intrinsic factor, which included being “placed to sleep in a queen-sized mattress being shared with a 6-year-old sibling, along with numerous blankets and other miscellaneous items; discovered unresponsive in a prone position with his face turned to the side and partially covered with a blanket.”
A report from the Department of Child Services (DCS) indicated the boy had no known health issues and that Davis ran an FSSA-licensed day care and has “extensive training on child care and safe sleeping environments.”
Davis had been known to DCS prior to the baby’s death. The boy had been born marijuana-positive and, on July 2, 2024, Davis had reportedly signed a “Safe Sleep Safety Plan,” acknowledging she understood that the safest places for her baby to sleep were in a crib, pack-and-play or bassinet and warned that co-sleeping places the baby at risk of suffocation and sleeping areas should be kept free of blankets, pillows and other items. The plan also included a provision that Davis not use marijuana while caring for her children, but she told investigators during an interview that, the morning of her baby’s death, she had gone downstairs to smoke marijuana and left the children alone upstairs.
Davis’ two other children were removed from the home, and interviews with them revealed that co-sleeping with the infant happened often.
Investigators say they attempted to contact Davis several times after talking to her children.
“She called me on February 18, 2025, and said she didn’t do anything wrong, her baby died of SIDS,” the detective wrote in the affidavit. “Brooklyn never came in for an additional interview.”
Court records indicate the case was filed in March 2026. Davis was booked into jail on April 1 on three counts of neglect of a dependent. An initial hearing was held on April 7, and a bail review hearing is planned for Monday.
-
Politics5 minutes agoByron Donalds cracks down on persistent border blind spot leaving US vulnerable to overstays
-
Health11 minutes agoHealthy diets spark lung cancer risk in non-smokers as pesticides loom
-
Sports17 minutes agoPGA Tour signals new era with axing of Hawaii events from schedule
-
Technology23 minutes agoAlexa+ lets you order food like a real conversation
-
Business29 minutes agoNew lawsuit alleges Uber is violating drivers’ rights. Here’s how
-
Entertainment35 minutes agoReview: Trigger warning? ‘For Want of a Horse’ gives new meaning to the term ‘animal lover’
-
Lifestyle41 minutes agoMore is more in this L.A. ‘barn’ exploding with thrifted finds and maximalist flair
-
Politics47 minutes agoFormer state Controller Betty Yee drops out of the governor’s race