INDIANAPOLIS – The Milwaukee Bucks are right back in their Eastern Conference playoff series with the Indiana Pacers after defending their homecourt with a 117-101 win in Game 3 on Friday.
Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 37 points and 12 rebounds, while Pascal Siakam paced Indiana with 28 points.
The Pacers continued the strong play that’s given them a 2-0 series lead. Bennedict Mathurin converted a three-point play to give Indiana the lead late in the first quarter. Damian Lillard scored with three seconds left to tie the game after the first 12 minutes.
The Pacers surged ahead in the second quarter. Siakam hit a 15-foot jumper to give Indiana its first double-digit lead at 53-43. The advantage stayed at 10 as the two teams went to the locker room for halftime.
The Pacers pushed the lead to 12 on another Siakam jumper on Indiana’s first possession of the second half, but the Bucks took control by the end of the quarter. Antetokounmpo made two free throws to give the Bucks the lead at 66-64. They would lead 86-75 by end of the third.
Milwaukee continued the onslaught in the fourth. Antetokounmpo gave the Bucks their biggest lead at 113-91 with three minutes to play.
Indiana still leads the series 2-1 with Game 4 on Sunday night at 9:30 p.m.