INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers hope to show last year’s run to the Eastern Conference Finals is just the beginning. They took a step towards proving that, dominating the Milwaukee Bucks, 117-98, in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday.
Forward Pascal Siakam paced the Pacers with 25 points, while Myles Turner contributed 19. Two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 36 points.
The Pacers trailed by three early, but took total control with just under six minutes to play in the first quarter. They used an 11-1 run to take a 30-19 lead and would lead by eight after one quarter of action.
They extended their lead to 67-43 at halftime. Andrew Nembhard led the charge with 15 first-half points. Siakam added 12 points, and Bennedict Mathurin had 11. The second-year guard was making his playoff debut after missing the postseason last season with an injury.
The Pacers took their largest lead of the game at 28 on a Myles Turner 3-pointer early in the third quarter. The Bucks used an 11-1 run late in the quarter to cut the deficit to 15.
Milwaukee inched as close as 12 points in the fourth, but Turner hit another clutch three with the shot clock winding down to help seal the game.
The Pacers will look to take a 2-0 series lead in Game 2 on Tuesday night at 7 p.m.