Gary Trent Jr. and Giannis Antetokounmpo each scored 37 factors to assist the Milwaukee Bucks come from behind and beat the Indiana Pacers 117-101 on Friday. The win cuts the Bucks’ deficit of their Jap Convention first-round playoff sequence to 2-1.
Trent was introduced into the beginning line-up instead of Taurean Prince and impressed coach Doc Rivers, sinking 9 of his 12 three-point makes an attempt. His 9 profitable photographs tied the Bucks’ playoff document, first set by Ray Allen within the 2001 Jap Convention Finals.
“We wished somebody aggressive to go at Tyrese Haliburton,” mentioned Doc Rivers. “Gary doesn’t change off. When he will get going, he retains pushing, and that’s precisely what we wanted. He’s a troublesome lad.”
Antetokounmpo additionally grabbed 12 rebounds and made six assists, whereas AJ Inexperienced added 12 factors, hitting 4 three-pointers.
Pascal Siakam led the scoring for Indiana with 28 factors, capturing 12 of 19. Aaron Nesmith scored 18 factors, and Tyrese Haliburton had 14 factors and 10 assists.
Recreation 4 will happen on Sunday in Milwaukee.
The third quarter was the turning level. Trent scored 18 factors within the interval, capturing 5 of 6 from three-point vary, serving to Milwaukee dominate 39-18 and take an 86-75 lead.
“We knew we had been getting good, open appears,” mentioned Inexperienced. “Gary can shoot in addition to anybody. He did his job tonight, and we’ll hold feeding him the ball for the remainder of the sequence.”
Damian Lillard, who had struggled earlier, made a three-pointer to start out the fourth quarter, and Inexperienced adopted with two extra. The Bucks went 6-for-10 from past the arc within the final quarter, with Trent making each of his photographs.
“They performed with a variety of pressure and willpower,” admitted Pacers coach Rick Carlisle. “We made errors in defence within the second half. They had been nice, and we had been poor.”
The sport began slowly, with either side struggling to search out their rhythm. Every workforce managed solely two three-pointers within the first quarter, which ended 26-26.
Indiana discovered their type late within the second quarter and led 57-47 at half-time. The Pacers shot 46 % from the sector earlier than the break, whereas the Bucks managed simply 38 % and made solely 4 of their 23 three-point makes an attempt.
Antetokounmpo led all scorers with 17 factors within the first half, whereas Nesmith led the Pacers with 15.
