That is why Damian Lillard and the Milwaukee Bucks teamed up.
With Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined, Lillard assumed the function of the undisputed No. 1 choice for the Bucks towards the Indiana Pacers on Sunday. He dominated – at the least for a half.
Lillard torched the Pacers for 35 factors within the first half in his first playoff sport with the Bucks. The end result was a 109-94 Recreation 1 Bucks victory to calm issues about taking part in with out Antetokounmpo of their first-round sequence towards the Pacers.
In 5 regular-season video games with Antetokounmpo within the lineup, the No. 1-seeded Bucks. Three, went 1-Four towards the Pacers. With Antetokounmpo in his road garments, Sunday's sport was down by halftime in Milwaukee's favor.
Checkers dominate the primary half
The Pacers, as a crew, have been capable of outscore Lillard by simply seven factors within the first half because the Bucks constructed a 69-42 halftime lead. Whereas Lillard lit up Indiana's protection from lengthy vary and on the rim, Milwaukee's protection held Indiana's league-leading offense to its fewest first-half factors of the season. It marked an emphatic victory for newcomers Lillard and head coach Doc Rivers, who was introduced in firstly of the season to rework Milwaukee's protection.
The playoff sport was Lillard's first since 2021 after the struggling Path Blazers failed to achieve the postseason in every of his final two seasons in Portland. He opened with a 19-point first quarter, capped by his third Three-pointer of the sport, to beat the buzzer and provides Milwaukee a 30-21 lead.
With Lillard rested to start out the second quarter, Milwaukee remained in management and used a 10-Zero run to increase its 9-point first-quarter result in 44-24. When Lillard returned halfway via the quarter, he picked up the place he left off.
He hit a Three-pointer from deep for his fourth Three-pointer to increase Milwaukee's result in 49-39.
His sixth Three-pointer of the half additionally drew a foul. He made the free throw for a four-point play to increase Milwaukee's result in 65-35.
By halftime, he had tied a playoff file for a half. His 35 first-half factors have been probably the most by any NBA participant within the playoffs since Kevin Durant scored 38 for the Warriors towards the Clippers in 2019. It's the form of explosion the Bucks have been in search of after they added Lillard final offseason to pair with Antetokounmpo.
Bucks maintain on as Lillard fails to attain after halftime
Lillard amazingly went scoreless within the second half. But it surely didn't matter. Milwaukee's 27-point halftime lead was greater than sufficient to resist Indiana's second-half effort. Lillard completed the sport with 35 factors, six rebounds and three assists. He shot 11-of-24 from the sphere and 6-of-11 from Three-point vary.
In the meantime, Milwaukee's protection has given the trouble the Bucks hoped for after they fired head coach Adrian Griffin and changed him with Rivers earlier within the season. Milwaukee had a Pacers crew that led the league with 123.Three factors per sport, at 42 within the first half and 94 for the sport. The Pacers shot simply 35.6 % from the sphere and Three-of-18 (16.7 %) from Three-point vary within the first half. They completed the sport taking pictures 39.6% from the sphere and Eight-of-39 (20.5%) from lengthy vary.
The Pacers made a run as Lillard took simply three area purpose makes an attempt in a scoreless third quarter. Indiana took benefit with a 29-14 lead within the third quarter, capped by a 9-Zero run that lower Milwaukee's result in 83-71.
However there was no severe Indiana rally. Khris Middleton chipped in with a 23-point, 10-rebound, four-assist effort after scoring eight within the first half. He shot 9-of-14 from the sphere in a return to All-Star kind after being closely injury-managed in the course of the common season. Milwaukee would prolong its lead again to 102-82 because it held Indiana at bay.
As a crew, the Bucks shot 46.6 % from the sphere and 14-of-37 (37.Eight %) from Three-point vary. Sixth Man of the 12 months finalist Bobby Portis had 15 factors and 11 rebounds whereas beginning for Antetokounmpo.
Pascal Siakam was Indiana's solely constant risk on offense in a 36-point, 14-rebound effort. All-Star Tyrese Haliburton made simply 9 photographs in a nine-point, eight-assist, seven-rebound efficiency. Middle Myles Turner struggled from the sphere (5-of-17, Three-of-10 from Three) whereas recording 17 factors, eight rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Will Giannis play on this sequence?
The Bucks have been in full management as Antetokounmpo — two-time MVP, five-time All-Defensive Group member and former Defensive Participant of the 12 months — watched from the bench in road garments. He missed the ultimate three video games of the common season with a calf pressure, and his standing going ahead is unclear. The Bucks hope to have him again in time to play within the first spherical, however Rivers stated earlier than the sport that he nonetheless hasn't practiced since his harm and declined to supply a prognosis.
In the meantime, the Bucks will proceed to look to Lillard and Middleton to hold the offensive load.