A strong start helps the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Indiana Pacers

The Milwaukee Bucks took off to a rampaging begin en path to scoring a 141-131 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Friday evening.

Popping out scorching

Giannis Antetokounmpo tallied his ninth 40-point recreation this season, as he as soon as once more led the best way for the Bucks with 41 factors, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists.

Jrue Vacation added 23 factors and 9 assists, whereas Khris Middleton had his finest scoring recreation since getting back from an extended layoff after firing 17 factors in simply quarter-hour of play.

The Bucks improved to 3-0 because the return of Antetokounmpo and Middleton from five-game and 18-game absences, respectively. Milwaukee has additionally received 5 of its final six video games.

“We had rhythm and have been in a position to simply cling on within the second half,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer mentioned. “These street wins are fairly candy, and there have been some actual constructive issues, particularly within the first half.”

Milwaukee used an explosive first half to get their second straight win towards Indiana. The Bucks additionally defeated the Pacers, 132-119, on January seventeenth.

The Bucks closed the primary quarter with a 45-30 lead after capturing 16-for-27 from the sphere, together with a 9-for-16 clip from the three-point space. Milwaukee stayed scorching within the second interval, the place it dumped 40 factors on Indiana and led by a mile on the bend, 85-56. The Bucks’ first-half output was a season-high.

Calming the storm

The Pacers launched repeated rallies within the ultimate half, however the Bucks all the time had the reply. Indiana made the sport extra fascinating when it moved inside 121-129 after a three-pointer by Buddy Hield with 4:06 left.

Antetokounmpo quelled the Pacers’ run by hitting well timed free throws as he went five-of-eight from the charity stripe within the ultimate 4 minutes that helped the Bucks ice the win and improved to 32-17 within the season.

Myles Turner led the Pacers with 24 factors, and Hield added 22.