It was one against five. Giannis did not get any help.
Two Central Division foes, the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers, kicked off the 2025 playoffs with an early Saturday afternoon tip-off. The game took place in Indianapolis in front of a raucous Pacers crowd that included Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, giving the Pacers a edge heading into the contest. And they roared with delight when WNBA star Clark and others appeared on the video board. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver was also in attendance.
The Pacers took the game in blowout fashion by a final score of 117-98, earning a 1-0 lead in the best 4 out of 7 playoff series. Indiana refused to be denied and gave their sellout crowd something to cheer and get on their feet for.
However, the game was basically over before it started, as the Bucks were run off the court. Indiana had a commanding 24-point lead, 67-43, at the break, and they did not take their foot off the gas.
“The series is one-seventh over, and Game 2 will be monumentally more difficult than this one,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said, referring to Tuesday’s game. “Everybody on our team has got to be armed and dangerous. Striking the right balance is everything for our team.”
The two-time league MVP and Defensive Player of the Year Giannis Antetokounmpo was a one-man show, leading the Bucks with 36 points and 12 rebounds. Guard A.J. Green scored 15 points off the bench in garbage time for the Bucks. Antetokounmpo showed up and did his job, but it was not enough to overcome the power of the Pacers.
But Antetokounmpo was also frustrated by Milwaukee’s lack of defensive intensity.
“I think we were late, like we got into scrambling mode, and they would create for the next guy and that’s what they want you to do,” he said. “We didn’t have enough urgency. Going into Game 2, hopefully we can change that.”
Embed from Getty ImagesPascal Siakam finished with a team-high 25 points and seven rebounds and Tyrese Haliburton added a double-double with 10 points and 12 assists, even though he had a subpar shooting day.
“It’s just playing the game the way it’s supposed to be played — not a lot of thinking, just play the game,” Siakam said after going an efficient 10 of 15 from the field. “I think as long as we play the right way and we get the shots we’re supposed to get and we want to get, that’s what’s important.”
The Bucks shot a frigid 12.5 percent from beyond the 3-point line in the first half, giving them their worst performance of the season and it could not have come at a worse time. It was simply a day to forget for Milwaukee.
The Pacers took the Bucks to school in every way possible, on their way to a perfect series start. Milwaukee was without star point guard Damian Lillard, but there were not many who could have seen this type of performance coming.
Lillard has been out since March 18 due to a serious blood clot issue, but did receive the green light to play in the postseason earlier this week. The star is in the ramp-up phase of the process in his return and could be back as soon as Game 3.
Pacers big man Myles Turner was a jack-of-all-trades, adding 19 points, drilled four 3-pointers, grabbed five rebounds and recorded four blocks. Guard Andrew Nembhard scored 17 points and dished out five assists, picking up right where he left off in last year’s playoff run to the Eastern Conference Finals. Guard Bennedict Mathurin also had his fingerprints all over the game, scoring, 13 points off the bench. Haliburton scored just 10 points on 3-of-13 shooting, including 0-of-7 from downtown, but dished out 12 assists against one turnover.
Without Lillard, the Bucks looked for someone to fill his shoes and step up, but it never happened. Forward Kyle Kuzma, who was traded from the Washington Wizards, had a forgettable playoff debut for the Bucks, scoring a big fat zero for the team.
Game 2 of this series is set for Tuesday, with both teams looking to make a emphatic statement. If Indiana can grab a 2-0 series lead, it will be tough for the Bucks to advance in the playoffs.
It remains to be seen if Lillard will be able to play in Game 2, but it could change everything if he does. Many believe this series is over already after one game, but the Bucks may have some extra juice and fire power up their sleeve.
