The Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks will as soon as once more do battle within the NBA Playoffs’ opening spherical.
It is deja vu yet again within the opening spherical of the NBA Playoffs.
The Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks will as soon as once more do battle within the first act of the annual hardwood melodrama, as the 2 sides slide into the respective fourth and fifth slots of the Jap Convention bracket. Then seeded sixth, Indiana received final yr’s set 4-2 over third-seeded Milwaukee en path to the Jap Convention Finals.
Indiana initially struggled to dwell as much as the expectations generated by final yr’s run to the convention semifinals, however ultimately discovered its footing over the vacations: because the calendar flipped to 2025, the Pacers are one in every of 4 groups (subsequent to the Affiliation podium of Oklahoma Metropolis, Boston, and Cleveland) to put up a win proportion of no less than .700 at 33-14. The Pacers run again virtually the identical group from final yr’s semifinal trek, with Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam main the best way. Indiana is looking for to win no less than one postseason spherical in consecutive seasons for the primary time since a three-year streak between 2012 and 2014.
It has been a rollercoaster tour for the Bucks, who personal the NBA’s second-longest energetic playoff streak at 9 seasons (behind solely Boston’s 11). They began the yr 2-8, however recovered effectively sufficient to win the NBA Cup in-season competitors, which featured an MVP effort from Giannis Antetokounmpo. Since then, the Bucks have handled a number of in-house calamities, equivalent to Bobby Portis‘ prolonged suspension for violations of the league drug coverage, the polarizing swap of franchise stalwart Khris Middleton for Kyle Kuzma, and Damian Lillard‘s energetic absence resulting from blood clots. Regardless of the calamities, the Bucks enter the postseason as one of many Affiliation’s hottest groups, profitable every of their final seven to swipe the 5 seed from Detroit and keep away from a New York Knicks group that had their quantity this season.
This would be the fourth playoff assembly between the Pacers and Bucks, with the previous prevailing in every of the primary three get-togethers (1999, 2000, 2024).
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Who: (4) Indiana Pacers vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks
What: NBA Playoffs, Jap Convention, First Spherical
The place: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis/Fiserv Discussion board, Milwaukee
Winners: MIL received season sequence 3-1
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Pacer to Watch: Bennedict Mathurin
The Pacers look remarkably much like final yr’s convention finalists however one of many largest modifications is the re-emergence of Mathurin, who received again on observe after an inconsistent sophomore season. Mathurin got here up massive within the major small ahead spot when Aaron Nesmith handled an ankle damage and has performed moderately effectively in aid since Indianapolis conformity was restored with the latter’s return. The Bucks could have the depth benefit—bear in mind, this profitable streak has been constructed sans Lillard—but when Mathurin’s on the high of his sport, the Pacers’ second unit can likewise thrive.
Buck to Watch: Ryan Rollins
The Bucks’ season might’ve been sunk when Portis received suspended and Lillard went down, however Rollins has turn into one on of probably the most surprising heroes of the 2024-25 NBA marketing campaign. Taking part in on a two-way cope with the Wisconsin Herd as not too long ago as March, Rollins has shot over 54 p.c from the sector (together with 49 p.c from 3-point vary) in just below 20 minutes a sport since he was moved to a regular contract. Extra not too long ago, Rollins stepped into the start line guard spot Lillard was compelled to vacate and averaged 10.9 factors, 4.0 assists, and 1.1 steals throughout Milwaukee’s late seven-game profitable streak. Rollins will not be capable of absolutely replicate what Lillard left behind, however his sterling substitute work has helped maintain the championship chase afloat.
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What They’re Saying
“They have two of the most effective gamers on the planet. We’re all too accustomed to how deadly they’re as a group. They’ve gotten higher this yr. They have extra depth. They have extra capturing.”-Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle (h/t Jamal Collier, ESPN)
“A group just like the Indiana Pacers, they’re going to maintain on taking part in arduous, they’re going to maintain on making an attempt to create open threes and making an attempt to get downhill and attempt to carry on taking part in quick. You’ve received to be able to play a 48-minute basketball sport.”-Giannis Antetokounmpo (h/t Related Press)
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Prediction
Regardless of how the sequence performs out, head coach Doc Rivers and the Bucks deserve no less than some credit score for what they have been in a position to accomplish this season. They may’ve folded at a number of factors, resulting from components each inside and past their management, however had new heroes rise at totally different factors and even emerged with some in-season {hardware} to showcase.
Alas for Milwaukee, the NBA Playoffs are usually not a realm of ethical victories and its top-heavy nature favors the star-studded—and, maybe extra importantly, the wholesome. Indiana’s headliners are firing on all cylinders and are aching for an opportunity to achieve entry into the NBA penthouse, anticipating an invitation that was maybe delayed resulting from accidents that turned the 2024 convention ultimate matchup in opposition to Boston right into a lopsided affair. No sequence involving the Bucks is ever assured due to the continued presence of Antetokounmpo however, in the meanwhile, it is Indianapolis’ time to shine.
Pacers in 6
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Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags
