Wednesday, Jan. 3 at 7:00 PM ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Game Preview
The Indiana Pacers (18-14) will seek to extend their four-game winning streak — tied for their longest winning streak of the season — on Wednesday when they take on Milwaukee for the second of two consecutive games against the Bucks (24-9).
The Pacers open the first matchup of their five-game homestand with three regular season victories over Milwaukee under their belts, including a victory over the Bucks in the NBA In-Season Tournament Semifinals on Dec. 7.
In the most recent outing between the two teams, Indiana beat the Bucks in Milwaukee on New Year’s Day, 122-113, despite trailing by as many as 15 points on two occasions and shooting only 44.3 percent from the floor. While holding the Bucks to just 36.0 percent shooting in the final frame, it was Tyrese Haliburton’s nine fourth-quarter points and Bennedict Mathurin’s seven fourth-quarter points that led the Pacers to outscore the Bucks, 38-25, in the final 12 minutes of play.
Win or lose on Wednesday night, Indiana will win the regular series with the Bucks for the first time since the 2017-18 season.
Haliburton, who currently leads the Eastern Conference with 24 double-doubles this season, neared a triple-double in the win by notching 26 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds. Mathurin also had an impressive night by netting 25 points and pulling down a team-high 13 rebounds.
The fifth and final regular season game between the two teams will most likely make for a high scoring game, with Indiana and Milwaukee ranked as the top two highest scoring teams in the league averaging 126.4 points and 124.6 points per game respectively. In addition, Indiana leads the league in field goal percentage shooting 50.7 percent, while Milwaukee follows closely behind at 50.0 percent.
One of the most crucial factors potentially leading to Indiana’s recent turnaround is the rearrangement of the starting lineup. Since inserting guard Andrew Nembhard, forward Aaron Nesmith, and forward Jalen Smith into the starting five on Dec. 26, Indiana has gone 4-0. For now, it seems as though the starters are here to stay with Nesmith adding 12.8 points, Smith contributing 10.8 points, and Nembhard pitching in 8.8 points per contest.
All-Star guard Haliburton has shined in Indiana’s most recent four games, as he’s put up an average of 25.5 points and 16 assists per game while only recording seven turnovers. Haliburton has continued to lead the league in assists this season, dishing out an average of 12.7 assists per game.
For Milwaukee, forward Giannis Antetokounmpo has had stellar games when facing off against the Pacers. The two-time NBA MVP has averaged 46.3 points and 13.5 rebounds per contest through the four regular season games against the Blue and Gold.
In addition, the Bucks starting lineup is supported by seven-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard, who is adding 25.5 points and a team-high 6.8 assists per contest this season. Khris Middleton is contributing an average of 14.5 points per game, while Brook Lopez is adding 12.8 points per game.
Projected Starters
Pacers: G - Tyrese Haliburton, G - Andrew Nembhard, F - Aaron Nesmith, F - Jalen Smith, C - Myles Turner
Bucks: G - Damian Lillard, G - Malik Beasley, F - Khris Middleton, F - Giannis Antetokounmpo, C - Brook Lopez
Injury Report
Pacers: Bruce Brown - questionable (right knee bone bruise), Andrew Nembhard - questionable (mid-back sprain)
Bucks: Khris Middleton - questionable (right knee injury management/left wrist sprain), Jae Crowder - out (left adductor surgery), AJ Green - out (nasal fracture)
Last Meeting
Jan. 1, 2024: Indiana rung in the New Year by tying their longest winning streak of the season Monday night with a 122-113 win over the Bucks in the first of two back-to-back matchups with Milwaukee.
After trailing by 15 points on two occasions, shooting 44 percent overall from the floor, and making only five of 35 3-point attempts, Indiana scraped out the win in the fourth quarter when they outscored the Bucks, 38-25.
Tyrese Haliburton neared a triple-double on Monday as he notched 26 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds to earn his 24th double-double of the season. Bennedict Mathurin led the bench as he followed behind with a double-double of his own of 25 points and 13 rebounds.
Indiana’s bench was rounded out by 18 points and nine rebounds from Isaiah Jackson and 16 points and nine assists from T.J. McConnell.
All five Milwaukee starters scored in double-figures, with Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the way with a triple-double of 30 points, 18 rebounds, and 11 assists. Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez contributed 21 points apiece.
Noteworthy
- Indiana enters the matchup 3-1 versus the Bucks this regular season, with one win in both Milwaukee Indianapolis. The Blue and Gold also defeated the Bucks on Dec. 7, 128-119, in the NBA In-Season Tournament Semifinals.
- Prior to this season, the Pacers had not beaten the Bucks in a season series since the 2017-18 season.
- On Monday, the Pacers earned their fourth consecutive victory after losing six of their previous seven outings. Indiana looks to earn its fifth straight win on Wednesday to set a new record for longest winning streak this season.
- Tyrese Haliburton earned his 24th double-double of the season in the victory Monday night, allowing him to break a tie between him and Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo for most double-doubles by any player in the Eastern Conference this season.
- Buddy Hield is just four 3-pointers away from logging 1,800 3-pointers for his career, which would make him just the 25th player to achieve this feat in NBA history. In addition, Hield is six 3-pointers away from recording his 465th 3-pointer in a Pacers uniform and tying with C.J. Miles for eighth place in most 3-point field goals made in franchise history.
Broadcast Information (TV and Radio Listings >>)
TV: Bally Sports Indiana - Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analyst), Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporter/host)
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan - Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analyst), Pat Boylan (sideline reporter/host)
Tickets
The Pacers will play their first home game of 2024 when they host Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday, Jan. 3 at 7:00 PM ET. Find Tickets >>