TM
A season that began with such promise after the blockbuster trade bringing former Portland superstar Damian Lillard to Milwaukee, ended in disappointing fashion Thursday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis as the Indiana Pacers eliminated the Bucks from the post-season in six games, winning the clincher easily 120-98. It’s the second straight year the Bucks were knocked out in round one. Last season, Giannis Antetokounmpo got hurt in game one and the Bucks were dispatched by Miami in five games. It led to the firing of championship winning coach Mike Budenholzer and the hiring of Adrian Griffin. The Bucks got off to a roaring 30-13 start but Griffin was let go with Doc Rivers brought on board. The Greek Freak never did see the floor in this year’s post-season, hobbled by a serious calf strain that occurred with three games left in the regular season. Lillard, bothered by a tender Achilles tendon, did return after missing games 4 and 5, putting up a game high 28 points in 35 minutes. Bobby Portis added a 20 point, 15 rebound double-double and Khris Middleton added 14. The Bucks were just no match for the younger, faster and energetic Pacers. Indiana won every quarter and had six players in double figures, led by two off the bench. Obi Toppin put up 21 and T.J. McConnell added 20. The Bucks got out to an early 10-3 but it didn’t take Indiana long to move in front and thwart every Bucks run. Milwaukee got as close as 6 late in the third quarter. The Pacers shot 54% from the floor and dished out 33 assists, Tyrese Haliburton of Oshkosh had 10 to go along with 17 points. Guard Patrick Beverley will likely be cutting a check to cover a fine from the NBA. Near the end of the game, Beverley tossed a ball at a fan sitting behind the Milwaukee bench, quickly getting a return pass and Beverley even more emphatically, whipped the ball back at the same fan again. That kind of summarized the frustration for everyone as the Bucks lost 8 of 11 meetings with Indiana this season. Rivers was 21-24 in his half a season as Head Coach, including the playoffs.
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