Player of the Game
T.J. FORD
Came off the bench to score a season-high 20 points in 26 minutes, hitting 8-of-11 shots, including 2-of-2 from the 3-point line, adding three assists and three rebounds.
Plus-Minus
Name Game Season
Diener -1 -13
Dunleavy -4 -35
Ford -8 -192
Foster DNP -9
Granger -19 -72
Hansbrough DNP -56
Head DNP +9
Hibbert -8 -42
D. Jones +1 -180
S. Jones DNP -136
McRoberts DNP -16
Murphy -12 -288
Price +3 -4
Rush -12 -165
Watson DNP -93
Noteworthy
  • A.J. Price, making his second career start, left the game in the third quarter with a concussion after being hit in the face on a drive by Andrew Bogut. No foul was called.
  • The Pacers didn't pull a rebound in the first 9 minutes of the game and wound up losing the board 43-33.
  • Earl Watson is expected to rejoin the team Tuesday against Chicago after missing the last two games to attend his grandmother's funeral.
  • Jeff Foster (back) missed his 26th straight game.
  • Tyler Hansbrough (inner ear infection) missed his 11th straight game and 18th in 22.
  • Luther Head (viral infection) missed his second in a row.
    • Hustle Board
    Points in the paint:
    Bucks 36, Pacers 16
    Fast-break points:
    Bucks 13, Pacers 12
    Second-chance points:
    Bucks 13, Pacers 3
    Points off turnovers:
    Bucks 25, Pacers 11
    Starters scoring:
    Bucks 69, Pacers 44
    Bench scoring:
    Pacers 37, Bucks 24
    Stat of the Night
    After going 1-of-28 from the 3-point line prior to being benched on Dec. 30, T.J. Ford has gone 3-of-4 from the arc in two games since.
    Up Next
    The Pacers play their final game before the All-Star break Tuesday against the Bulls in Conseco Fieldhouse (7 p.m., Fox Sports Indiana, 1070 The Fan).
    Related links
  • Blog replay
  • Video
  • Box score
  • Recap
    • More Video: Granger to Murphy | Tough pass inside
    END RESULT
    After a brief outburst of offensive fireworks earlier this week, the Pacers were barely able to fire up a sparkler against Milwaukee's smothering defense. Managing just 81 points and committing 20 turnovers, the Pacers lost 93-81 to the Bucks before 18,717 Saturday night in the Bradley Center.

    T.J. Ford came off the bench to score a season-high 20 for the Pacers and took over after rookie A.J. Price, making his second career start, was knocked out of the game in the third quarter with a concussion, the result of a blow to the face from Milwaukee's Andrew Bogut on a play when no foul was called.

    Bogut led the Bucks with 21 points, 17 in the first half.

    IMPACT
    The Pacers had their two-game win streak snapped and fell to 18-33 overall, 6-20 on the road. They also lost the 10th straight on the second night of back-to-back games. They're 6-9 on the first night, 3-12 on the second night. Milwaukee won its seventh in a row at home and improved to 23-26 overall, 16-7 in the Bradley Center.

    QUOTEWORTHY
  • "We had way too many turnovers tonight, did not respond well to their pressure defense, did not back-cut, did not move well without the basketball." – Jim O'Brien.
  • "I don't think we back-cut for more than one basket the whole night. We just did not move. We run a passing game and when we got the ball at the elbow we just stood around and watched each other. We let them get under our chin. When you're playing against pressure basketball defensive teams, you've got to move. We did not." – O'Brien.
  • "He was terrific. He was very active, very live, very quick to the ball, much quicker than our guys in going to the glass and driving the basketball and creating havoc. He had a wonderful basketball game." – O'Brien on Milwaukee's Luc Mbah a Moute.
  • "Interesting no-call." – O'Brien on the play that resulted in Price's concussion.
  • "He played a solid basketball game." – O'Brien on Ford.

    KEY MOMENTS
    Bogut was too much for the Pacers in the early going as the Bucks put together an 18-4 run in the first quarter to open a 28-15 lead. Milwaukee's lead grew to 39-21 early in the second before the Pacers countered with 10 in a row to cut the deficit to eight and they were within arm's reach at halftime, trailing just 53-46.

    Indiana quickly cut the deficit to 53-50 out of the locker room but would get no closer, though the Pacers hung around through the third quarter and trailed 70-63 entering the fourth. Milwaukee's lead was 80-74 with 5:42 left but rookie point guard Brandon Jennings made his first bucket of the night, a 3-pointer, to spark a six-point surge that pushed Milwaukee's lead to 86-74 and the Pacers would offer no further challenges.

    BY THE NUMBERS
    Ford scored his 20 points in 26 minutes, making 8-of-11 shots including 2-of-2 from the 3-point line – doubling his season total of 3-pointers made in the process. Danny Granger struggled to a 5-of-14 shooting night and scored 14, adding five assists and two steals. Mike Dunleavy scored 11 off the bench and Roy Hibbert scored 10. Troy Murphy had 11 rebounds but scored just six on 2-of-8 shooting. The Pacers shot .464 overall, including 6-of-18 from the arc. They were outrebounded 43-33 and committed 20 turnovers leading to 25 Milwaukee points.

    Bogut was 9-of-15 for the Bucks, adding eight rebounds to his 21 points. Mbah a Moute had a season-high 18 points and 11 rebounds, making 7-of-9 shots, while Carlos Delfino made four 3-pointers and scored 16 with five assists. Veteran Jerry Stackhouse scored a season-high 14 off the bench, making three from the arc and pulling six rebounds. The Bucks shot just 43 percent but dominated inside, outscoring the Pacers 36-16 in the paint and 13-3 on second-chance points.


    •