Milwaukee Bucks upset Indiana Pacers in opening game of playoffs

Damian Lillard scored all 35 points before halftime, and the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Indiana Pacers 109-94 in their Eastern Conference playoff-opening on Sunday, despite Giannis Antetokounmpo not available for the game. 

The Bucks needed Lillard to step up in the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo, whose comeback date is questionable due to a strained left calf that forced him to miss Milwaukee Bucks last three regular-season games. With Antetokounmpo watching from the bench, Lillard set a new Bucks record for points in either half of a playoff game. 

For Indiana Pacers, Pascal Siakam had 36 points and 13 rebounds who had not scored less than 99 points throughout the regular season and averaged a league-high 123.3 points per game. The Pacers were 8 of 39 from three-point range. Indiana is making its first playoff participation since 2020, and it hopes to go past the first round for the first time since 2014.

Indiana Pacers tried to cut the gap

Khris Middleton led the Bucks with 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Bobby Portis contributed 15 points and 11 rebounds. Lillard scored 19 points in the first quarter, the most by any player in a playoff opener since at least 1997. He recorded the most first-half points of any playoff player since Kevin Durant had 38 for the Golden State Warriors in a 2019 first-round game against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Indiana Pacers made a game of it in the second half, ultimately shutting off Lillard, who went 0-for-5 after halftime. Indiana ended the third quarter with nine consecutive baskets, cutting Milwaukee's advantage to 83-71. Jae Crowder and Malik Beasley hit three-pointers on consecutive possessions to spark an 8-0 run that pushed Milwaukee's advantage to 99-77 with 8:10 remaining. Milwaukee led by at least 14 points throughout the remainder of the game. Game 2 will take place on Tuesday.