Game Rewind: Pacers 100, Bucks 116

On a night honoring the 1990s era of Pacers basketball, Indiana was unable to complete a 90s-style comeback against the feisty Milwaukee Bucks, who topped the Pacers 116-100 on Saturday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Every time the Pacers (29-25) made a run at the lead, Milwaukee responded with deadeye shooting. The Bucks connected on 17-of-31 3-point shots, and were sent to the free throw line 37 times, making 29 of their attempts.

The closest Indiana got in the game was when the Pacers opened up the second half with 10 unanswered points, tying the game at 62. But following the run, Milwaukee regained control, using a 9-0 burst to once again enter the driver's seat.

"I thought we just didn’t have a motor for whatever reason," explained Pacers head coach Nate McMillan after the game. "I thought they came out very aggressive from the start and we couldn’t get going. They pretty much did whatever they wanted. We made a couple shots to get back in the game and then they made some plays to get that momentum back."

To open the fourth, Monta Ellis and Al Jefferson scored Indiana's first 11 points, bringing the Bucks' lead down to eight points. But in response, Bucks rookie Malcolm Brogdon nailed a 3-pointer from the corner, putting Milwaukee (23-20) back up by 11 — enough of a lead to close out the final minutes of the game, sending the Pacers to their third consecutive loss.

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During the first half, the Pacers didn't get major contributions from two of their most reliable players, Paul George and Jeff Teague. PG was 1-of-4 from the field, scoring just 2 points. Teague was without a field goal attempt over the first two quarters, but passed out two assists.

But even with Teague and George in an early funk, C.J. Miles and Ellis helped pick up the slack for the Pacers, who trailed by as much as 14 in the first half.

Miles — who finished the game with 23 points — was hot from deep, drilling four of his six first-half 3-point attempts for a team-high 12 points at the break. And Ellis erupted off the bench, scoring nine points, including a one-handed slam to lift the crowd back into the game.

Despite the Pacers' contributions from the bench, Milwaukee's shooting was too locked in in the first half to overcome, hitting 50 percent of its shots, including going 8-of-15 from beyond the 3-point line. At one point in the second quarter, Bucks reserve Mirza Teletovic caught on fire, going on a personal 8-0 run to put Indiana down double digits.

Thanks to a late 3-pointer from Ellis in the final minute of the half, the Pacers trailed by just 10 at the break, a deficit they quickly erased out of the locker room.

When the second half began — following a ceremony honoring the Pacers players and staff from the 1990s — Indiana lit off on an inspired 10-0 run, tying the game at 62 all and forcing a Bucks timeout.

Out of the stoppage, the tables were turned, with the Bucks going on a 9-0 sprint of their own to regain control of the lead.

The Pacers threatened again in the fourth quarter, getting the lead down to eight points with under five minutes remaining, but Milwaukee closed the door again, using the hot shooting hand that carried them all night.

"We have to get it together," Al Jefferson said. "We played so well the last couple of weeks and now we’re on a three-game skid. We just have to get it going here before the All-Star break."

The Bucks forced the Pacers into 14 turnovers, which they converted to 17 points.

Milwaukee made seven more 3-pointers and nine more free throws than Indiana, despite each team making 35 field goals.

Myles Turner passed out a career-high six assists. His previous best was four.

Monta Ellis provided a spark off the bench, scoring 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting.

"That’s one of those teams with a lot of really athletic guys. They protect the paint really well and get a lot of deflections and steals for whatever reason. I felt like we were hesitant with the ball, maybe scared to make a certain pass because they were doing a good job of shrinking the paint." -Al Jefferson

"They just zoned, they double-teamed and trapped. Those are rhythm breakers, especially if you don’t move the ball well. We fell into that trap tonight by allowing them to trap us and that’s where the game was at." -Paul George

"Their spirit, their energy, you could see was extremely high. I thought the bench was great, the starters were good, the ball was moving. It was a team effort and that’s what it takes to win." -Bucks head coach Jason Kidd

Milwaukee's 17 made 3-pointers tied the season-high for a Pacers opponent this season.

The Pacers host Kawhi Leonard and the Spurs on Monday, Feb. 13 at 7:00 PM ET. Find Tickets »

Striped Beanie - $10. Game Night Specials can be purchased in the Home Court Gift Shop or any of our souvenir stands located on all levels of Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The special is also available online at PacersGear.com until midnight.