Bucks-Pacers: 5 takeaways from crucial Game 4

INDIANAPOLIS — As the Milwaukee Bucks lost player after player but continued to harass the Indiana Pacers in Game 4 Sunday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, they began to resemble Monty Python's fabled Black Knight.

Unfortunately, the “flesh wounds” inflicted by the Indiana Pacers ultimately proved to be too great. Here are five takeaways from the 126-113 victory that gave the Pacers a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series:

1. No Lillard, no Giannis, no chance?

It's one thing to have to compete without two of your starters. It's another thing entirely to lose 40% of the East's All-Star starting lineup at the worst possible time.

That was the Bucks' predicament on Sunday. Giannis Antetokounmpo was unavailable at the start of the series due to a strained left calf muscle. Then Damian Lillard tweaked an already sore right Achilles tendon late in regulation of Friday's Game 3 overtime loss.

Add to that Khris Middleton's bad ankle and Bobby Portis's careless ejection in the first quarter of that game, and the NBA's familiar rallying cry of “next man up” rang pretty hollow.

It's debatable whether the Bucks had a legitimate chance to steal the game. It felt more like a moral victory and a testament to the ten guys playing for coach Doc Rivers in the first half that his team was within three at halftime.

But Milwaukee's last lead, 44-43, disappeared during an 11-2 run by the Pacers in the second quarter. Indiana outscored the Bucks 31-21 in the third quarter and they never got closer than six – briefly – in the final 18 minutes.

Brave performance, particularly from Middleton and Brook Lopez, who repelled a number of 'Brooklyn Brook' chances from low posts. But it was Indiana that played and looked like a team ready for the next round.

2. There's no denying the Pacers' many weapons

For Milwaukee to win the game, it was essential to do everything right, keep the score in the 80s or 90s and hope to get out of the arc. On the other hand, of course, that meant Indiana had to work hard at everything.

None of that happened. By halftime, the teams had combined to score 131 points. The Bucks were ordinary from deep (36.4%). Meanwhile, the Pacers went 22-for-43 on 3-point shots, a rate of 51.2% that's almost as good as their 2-point percentage (52.2%).

Center Myles Turner hit seven of his nine 3-point attempts, blocked three shots, scored 29 points and put Lopez on a virtual poster.

MYLES TURNER throws down the huge poster 🤯🤯🤯

Bucks Pacers | Game 4 on TNT 🍿 pic.twitter.com/Iej1IJcnns

– NBA (@NBA) April 29, 2024

Guard Tyrese Haliburton made three straight three-pointers early in the third quarter, forcing the Bucks into reality. And Obi Toppin from the bench tormented them by repeatedly beating them downfield for quick 2s.

It was a testament to Indiana's strong offense, even if there were only seven fast break points. Whatever Milwaukee was trying to take away, coach Rick Carlisle and the Pacers went with something else.

“We just fought,” Rivers said.

3. From the sixth man to the invisible man

The poor personnel situation became even worse when, just seven minutes into the game, Portis got into a fight with Indiana guard Andrew Nembhard after one play. The two exchanged jabs, but Portis topped him with a punch to the head. That earned him two technical fouls to Nembhard's one and an automatic field throw on those pairs.

Portis was valuable enough for Milwaukee to finish third in Kia's Sixth Man of the Year voting. He started in Antetokounmpo's place, which makes him even more important. Then he is eliminated early in what is perhaps his team's most important game so far.

The veteran striker's famous fire burned him and his team. Portis had upset Indiana with some comments after Game 2, and again he went too far.

“Emotion got the best of him,” Middleton said. “He did a pretty good job of playing close to that line without crossing the line. Tonight he just crossed at the worst possible time for us.”

4. Who passed the audition?

With two starters out and Portis' night cut short, that left plenty of minutes free for other Bucks. Malik Beasley was back in the starting lineup and scored 20 points.

Of the others, young guys Andre Jackson Jr. and AJ Green received praise from Rivers and his teammates. Jae Crowder and Danilo Gallinari, however, combined for eight points with little impact.

5. Game 5 as a chance, pressure

Indiana is one win away from reaching the East semifinals for the first time since 2014. The Pacers had five straight first-round exits from 2016 to 2020 and finished 11th in the conference a year ago.

The Bucks weren't supposed to go home injured and underwater in the series. The inclusion of Lillard shortly before training camp made for a turbulent start to the season. But problems were bubbling beneath the surface of the team's 30-13 start that led to coach Adrian Griffin being fired, and Milwaukee was desperate to pull through.

Rivers said the team won't risk ruling out Antetokounmpo or Lillard if they aren't healthy. “We will not put them in danger. That’s No. 1,” the coach said. “And we’re going to play against the guys who are ready to play.”

Frankly, a spate of injuries down the stretch might be the Bucks' best chance to save face now. Anything less than the conference finals would be a disappointment given the inflated expectations.

That's seven more wins at a time when it's difficult to win any of them.

* * *

Steve Aschburner has been writing about the NBA since 1980. You can email him here, his archive can be found here and Follow him on X.

The views on this site do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Warner Bros. Discovery.