Pacers hit franchise playoff best 22 3-pointers to beat Bucks 126-113 and take 3-1 lead in series
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Indiana center Myles Turner found a simple lesson from last week's Game 1 loss.
When you find the openings, take shots without hesitating.
Turner effectively put his new strategy to use Sunday night and it worked perfectly, again. He had his second straight 29-point game, finished with nine rebounds and four assists and made seven 3-pointers as the Pacers broke the franchise's NBA playoff record with 22 3's to beat Milwaukee 126-113 for a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
“After that first game, we watched a lot of film and I saw some of the holes in the defense and realized there were open shots we could exploit,” Turner said. “A lot of it is read and react, which is pretty much what our whole offense is.”
Turner's play over the last two games has changed the series.
He has produced playoff career highs twice and on a team of sharp-shooters Sunday night might have been the best. While Indiana went 22 of 43 from beyond the arc, Turner was 7 of 9 and even heard his name chanted by fans who once thought he should be traded.
Instead, Turner has the Pacers heading back to Milwaukee for Game 5 with three straight wins and needing one more to reach the Eastern Conference semifinals for the first time since 2014. The Bucks, meanwhile, are trying to avoid a second straight first-round exit.
Sure, the Bucks played without two-time league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and eight-time All-Star Damian Lillard because of injuries Sunday. Antetokounmpo hasn't played since April 9 when he strained his left calf, while Lillard had a walking boot protecting his right foot after hurting his Achilles tendon in Friday night's overtime loss.
Both could miss Tuesday's game, too.
But health has been less of a problem for Milwaukee in this season series than the matchups as Indiana has won seven of nine matchups.
And it was more of the same Sunday.
Tyrese Haliburton scored 24 points, his second straight playoff career high, Andrew Nembhard finished with 15 points and nine rebounds and Pascal Siakam added 13 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
“We knew coming into the game we were going to have to trap more and do things we don't traditionally do,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers said. “I thought we hung in there, I really did.”
They just couldn't even the series. Brook Lopez led the Bucks with 27 points and nine rebounds, and Khris Middleton added 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists despite playing with a sprained right ankle and four fouls for much of the second half.
Part of the problem was depth, which could prove tricky again Tuesday night.
Middleton hurt his left ankle during the second half, backup guard Pat Connaughton injured his ribs and starting forward Bobby Portis Jr. was ejected with 5:01 left in the first quarter after he and Andrew Nembhard were involved in a shoving match. Portis drew two technical fouls on the play, part of a six-technical first half.
“It was a tough break for us, there's no doubt about it,” Rivers said when asked about Portis' early departure. “Playoff games are high emotion, they really are and so that happened. You can't get it back once it happened.”
Still, the Pacers struggled to take advantage, finishing the back-and-forth first half with just a 67-64 lead.
But after Lopez opened the third quarter with a basket, Haliburton responded with three straight 3-pointers to give the Pacers a 76-66 lead. The Bucks never completely recovered as Indiana extended the margin to 95-78 on Obi Toppin's layup with 2:24 left in the quarter.
Milwaukee finally started cutting into the deficit late in the third quarter and opened the fourth with seven straight points to make it 98-92.
Indiana answered with a 10-2 run to rebuild a 108-94 cushion with 7:25 to play and Turner helped put it away with a couple of late 3-pointers before both teams put their starters on the bench.
“I didn't realize when I hit the 3 they were chanting my name. I saw it afterward," Turner said. “But it was very special, knowing how much this city means to me and with my family here, it was very special.”
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Brook Lopez vs. Myles Turner (Bobby Portis gains possession) | |||
11:45 | Malik Beasley misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
11:42 | Pascal Siakam defensive rebound | |||
11:31 | Pascal Siakam misses two point floating jump shot | |||
11:26 | Brook Lopez defensive rebound | |||
11:18 | Patrick Beverley misses two point driving hook shot | |||
11:16 | Pacers defensive rebound | |||
11:03 | +3 | Andrew Nembhard makes three point jump shot (Pascal Siakam assists) | 0-3 | |
10:46 | +2 | Bobby Portis makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 2-3 | |
10:33 | Myles Turner misses two point cutting layup | |||
10:30 | Bobby Portis defensive rebound | |||
10:23 | +3 | Malik Beasley makes three point jump shot (Patrick Beverley assists) | 5-3 | |
9:57 | Myles Turner misses three point jump shot | |||
9:54 | Bucks defensive rebound | |||
9:37 | Bobby Portis misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
9:35 | Myles Turner defensive rebound | |||
9:24 | +2 | Pascal Siakam makes two point driving dunk (Andrew Nembhard assists) | 5-5 | |
9:23 | Pascal Siakam technical foul | |||
9:23 | +1 | Khris Middleton makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 6-5 | |
9:01 | +2 | Khris Middleton makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot (Malik Beasley assists) | 8-5 | |
8:40 | Khris Middleton shooting foul (Pascal Siakam draws the foul) | |||
8:40 | Pascal Siakam misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
8:40 | Pacers offensive rebound | |||
8:40 | Pascal Siakam misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
8:38 | Bobby Portis defensive rebound | |||
8:30 | +2 | Patrick Beverley makes two point driving layup | 10-5 | |
8:28 | Patrick Beverley technical foul | |||
8:28 | +1 | Tyrese Haliburton makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 10-6 | |
8:22 | +2 | Tyrese Haliburton makes two point driving floating jump shot | 10-8 | |
8:02 | +2 | Patrick Beverley makes two point turnaround hook shot | 12-8 | |
7:53 | Andrew Nembhard misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
7:51 | Aaron Nesmith offensive rebound | |||
7:50 | Pascal Siakam misses three point jump shot | |||
7:46 | Patrick Beverley defensive rebound | |||
7:39 | Bobby Portis misses three point jump shot | |||
7:35 | Tyrese Haliburton defensive rebound | |||
7:32 | Patrick Beverley shooting foul (Myles Turner draws the foul) | |||
7:32 | Myles Turner misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
7:32 | Pacers offensive rebound | |||
7:32 | Myles Turner misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
7:30 | Bobby Portis defensive rebound | |||
7:16 | Khris Middleton turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
7:07 | +3 | Tyrese Haliburton makes three point stepback jump shot | 12-11 | |
7:04 | Bucks 60 second timeout | |||
6:46 | +2 | Bobby Portis makes two point driving hook shot | 14-11 | |
6:29 | Tyrese Haliburton misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
6:27 | Khris Middleton defensive rebound | |||
6:15 | Patrick Beverley misses two point driving layup | |||
6:13 | Pascal Siakam defensive rebound | |||
6:01 | +3 | Myles Turner makes three point jump shot (Andrew Nembhard assists) | 14-14 | |
5:48 | +2 | Khris Middleton makes two point driving floating jump shot | 16-14 | |
5:30 | +3 | Aaron Nesmith makes three point jump shot (Andrew Nembhard assists) | 16-17 | |
5:14 | Khris Middleton misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
5:10 | Tyrese Haliburton defensive rebound | |||
5:08 | Aaron Nesmith turnover (lost ball) (Patrick Beverley steals) | |||
5:01 | Aaron Nesmith shooting foul (Khris Middleton draws the foul) | |||
5:01 | Bobby Portis technical foul | |||
5:01 | Bobby Portis technical foul (Double) | |||
5:01 | Andrew Nembhard technical foul (Double) | |||
5:01 | +1 | Tyrese Haliburton makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 16-18 | |
5:01 | Khris Middleton misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
5:01 | Bucks offensive rebound | |||
5:01 | +1 | Khris Middleton makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 17-18 | |
4:51 | Obi Toppin misses two point jump shot | |||
4:46 | Brook Lopez defensive rebound | |||
4:34 | Khris Middleton misses two point pullup bank jump shot | |||
4:34 | T.J. McConnell defensive rebound | |||
4:27 | +2 | Obi Toppin makes two point driving floating bank jump shot (T.J. McConnell assists) | 17-20 | |
4:08 | +2 | Brook Lopez makes two point driving floating jump shot (Andre Jackson Jr. assists) | 19-20 | |
4:02 | +2 | Obi Toppin makes two point layup (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 19-22 | |
3:48 | +2 | Pat Connaughton makes two point driving finger roll layup | 21-22 | |
3:41 | +2 | Obi Toppin makes two point alley-oop dunk (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 21-24 | |
3:24 | Obi Toppin personal foul (Brook Lopez draws the foul) | |||
3:19 | Andre Jackson Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
3:17 | Bucks offensive rebound | |||
3:13 | +2 | Brook Lopez makes two point cutting dunk (AJ Green assists) | 23-24 | |
2:56 | Tyrese Haliburton misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
2:55 | Brook Lopez defensive rebound | |||
2:48 | +3 | Andre Jackson Jr. makes three point jump shot (Khris Middleton assists) | 26-24 | |
2:46 | Pacers 60 second timeout | |||
2:36 | Ben Sheppard turnover (bad pass) (Andre Jackson Jr. steals) | |||
2:27 | Brook Lopez turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
2:09 | +3 | Ben Sheppard makes three point jump shot (T.J. McConnell assists) | 26-27 | |
1:45 | +2 | Brook Lopez makes two point driving layup (Pat Connaughton assists) | 28-27 | |
1:28 | Obi Toppin misses two point driving reverse layup | |||
1:28 | Pat Connaughton defensive rebound | |||
1:21 | Brook Lopez misses three point jump shot | |||
1:20 | T.J. McConnell defensive rebound | |||
1:13 | Doug McDermott misses three point running jump shot | |||
1:13 | AJ Green defensive rebound | |||
1:02 | +3 | AJ Green makes three point running pullup jump shot (Andre Jackson Jr. assists) | 31-27 | |
0:54 | T.J. McConnell misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
0:52 | Pacers offensive rebound | |||
0:52 | Pat Connaughton personal foul (Loose ball) (Pascal Siakam draws the foul) | |||
0:47 | +3 | Doug McDermott makes three point jump shot (T.J. McConnell assists) | 31-30 | |
0:32 | AJ Green misses three point jump shot | |||
0:28 | Pascal Siakam defensive rebound | |||
0:14 | +3 | Obi Toppin makes three point jump shot (Pascal Siakam assists) | 31-33 | |
0:06 | Ben Sheppard personal foul (Take) (Pat Connaughton draws the foul) | |||
0:03 | +2 | Pat Connaughton makes two point reverse layup | 33-33 | |
0:00 | T.J. McConnell misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
0:00 | Pacers offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:48 | +2 | T.J. McConnell makes two point driving floating jump shot | 33-35 | |
11:31 | Khris Middleton turnover (bad pass) (Ben Sheppard steals) | |||
11:28 | Ben Sheppard offensive foul (Charge) (Khris Middleton draws the foul) | |||
11:28 | Ben Sheppard turnover (offensive foul) | |||
11:17 | Jae Crowder misses three point jump shot | |||
11:15 | Ben Sheppard defensive rebound | |||
11:08 | T.J. McConnell misses three point running jump shot | |||
11:05 | Khris Middleton defensive rebound | |||
10:52 | +2 | Danilo Gallinari makes two point fadeaway jump shot (Khris Middleton assists) | 35-35 | |
10:39 | +3 | Ben Sheppard makes three point jump shot (T.J. McConnell assists) | 35-38 | |
10:28 | +2 | Khris Middleton makes two point pullup bank jump shot | 37-38 | |
10:19 | +2 | T.J. McConnell makes two point driving finger roll layup | 37-40 | |
10:04 | Obi Toppin personal foul (Khris Middleton draws the foul) | |||
9:54 | +2 | Jae Crowder makes two point cutting layup (Patrick Beverley assists) | 39-40 | |
9:46 | T.J. McConnell misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
9:42 | AJ Green defensive rebound | |||
9:31 | +2 | Khris Middleton makes two point driving floating jump shot | 41-40 | |
9:31 | T.J. McConnell shooting foul (Khris Middleton draws the foul) | |||
9:31 | +1 | Khris Middleton makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 42-40 | |
9:24 | +3 | Aaron Nesmith makes three point jump shot (T.J. McConnell assists) | 42-43 | |
8:58 | +2 | Danilo Gallinari makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 44-43 | |
8:49 | +2 | T.J. McConnell makes two point driving finger roll layup | 44-45 | |
8:30 | Khris Middleton misses three point jump shot | |||
8:27 | Pacers defensive rebound | |||
8:15 | +2 | Pascal Siakam makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot (Myles Turner assists) | 44-47 | |
8:01 | Aaron Nesmith personal foul (Danilo Gallinari draws the foul) | |||
7:53 | Danilo Gallinari misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
7:47 | Pascal Siakam defensive rebound | |||
7:38 | Myles Turner misses two point turnaround jump shot | |||
7:35 | Malik Beasley defensive rebound | |||
7:29 | Khris Middleton turnover (bad pass) (Pascal Siakam steals) | |||
7:22 | +2 | Myles Turner makes two point cutting dunk (Andrew Nembhard assists) | 44-49 | |
7:22 | Bucks 60 second timeout | |||
7:10 | AJ Green misses three point jump shot | |||
7:05 | Brook Lopez offensive rebound | |||
7:01 | +2 | Brook Lopez makes two point alley-oop layup (Khris Middleton assists) | 46-49 | |
6:49 | +3 | Myles Turner makes three point jump shot (Tyrese Haliburton assists) | 46-52 | |
6:35 | Malik Beasley misses three point jump shot | |||
6:32 | Khris Middleton offensive rebound | |||
6:29 | Myles Turner blocks Malik Beasley's three point jump shot | |||
6:28 | Andrew Nembhard defensive rebound | |||
6:21 | AJ Green shooting foul (Myles Turner draws the foul) | |||
6:21 | +1 | Myles Turner makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 46-53 | |
6:21 | +1 | Myles Turner makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 46-54 | |
6:12 | +3 | Andre Jackson Jr. makes three point jump shot (Pat Connaughton assists) | 49-54 | |
5:53 | Aaron Nesmith misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
5:49 | Khris Middleton defensive rebound | |||
5:40 | +2 | Malik Beasley makes two point pullup jump shot (Andre Jackson Jr. assists) | 51-54 | |
5:38 | Pacers 60 second timeout | |||
5:24 | +2 | Tyrese Haliburton makes two point driving floating bank jump shot (Andrew Nembhard assists) | 51-56 | |
5:05 | Khris Middleton turnover (bad pass) (Pascal Siakam steals) | |||
5:00 | Khris Middleton shooting foul (Myles Turner draws the foul) | |||
5:00 | Myles Turner misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
5:00 | Pacers offensive rebound | |||
5:00 | Myles Turner misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
4:58 | Andre Jackson Jr. defensive rebound | |||
4:45 | Khris Middleton misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
4:41 | Myles Turner defensive rebound | |||
4:30 | Myles Turner misses two point driving dunk | |||
4:27 | Brook Lopez defensive rebound | |||
4:10 | +2 | Brook Lopez makes two point driving floating jump shot | 53-56 | |
3:58 | +2 | Tyrese Haliburton makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 53-58 | |
3:34 | +3 | Malik Beasley makes three point jump shot (Andre Jackson Jr. assists) | 56-58 | |
3:12 | Andrew Nembhard misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
3:12 | Pat Connaughton defensive rebound | |||
3:05 | Pat Connaughton misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
3:02 | Myles Turner defensive rebound | |||
2:54 | +3 | Myles Turner makes three point jump shot (Andrew Nembhard assists) | 56-61 | |
2:31 | Khris Middleton misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
2:28 | Myles Turner defensive rebound | |||
2:28 | Andre Jackson Jr. personal foul (Myles Turner draws the foul) | |||
2:13 | Myles Turner misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | |||
2:10 | Myles Turner offensive rebound | |||
2:09 | Brook Lopez blocks Myles Turner's two point putback layup | |||
2:08 | Pacers offensive rebound | |||
2:01 |