INDIANA Pacers relied on a huge second half run to defeat Milwaukee Bucks, 142-130, in the 2023-2024 NBA Season on Wednesday night (Thursday in the Philippines) at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Down 66-68 at the half, the Pacers turned things around in the third period with baskets from Tyrese Haliburton, Jalen Smith, and Bruce Brown to establish an 87-74 advantage.
Indiana’s lead grew to as high as 18 points in the fourth quarter at 122-104 before Milwaukee threatened to within 122-133, but baskets from Haliburton and Myles Turner sealed the win for the Pacers.
Haliburton finished with a double-double of 31 points and 12 assists to go with three blocks, while Bennedict Mathurin chipped in 16 markers as the Pacers notched its fourth consecutive win for a 19-14 record.
Turner, Brown, and Obi Toppin ended with 15 markers apiece, while Jalen Smith and Buddy Hield ended with 13 and 10, respectively, as the Pacers secured its second straight win against the Bucks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo tallied 26 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists, Damian Lillard added 23 markers, while Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, and Marjohn Beauchamp had 19, 16, and 12 as the Bucks dropped to 24-10.
Meanwhile, Cleveland Cavaliers (19-15) secured a wire-to-wire 140-101 domination over the slumping Washington Wizards (6-27) at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio.
Max Strus connected six three-point conversions to lead the Cavaliers’ offense with 24 points, while Donovan Mitchell and Caris LeVert ended up with 22 and 21 markers, respectively.
The Cavaliers also drew double-digit contributions from Jarrett Allen (17 points, 19 rebounds, and seven assists), Georges Niang (15 points), and Sam Merrill (11 points).
Kyle Kuzma paced the Wizards with 16 points, while Daniel Gafford, Michael Muscala and Corey Kispert all chipped in 12 markers in another lopsided defeat./PN
BOX SCORE:
INDIANA 142 — Haliburton 31, Mathurin 16, Toppin 15, Brown 15, Turner 15, Smith 13, Hield 10, Nesmith 9, Jackson 9, McConnell 6, Walker 3, Sheppard 0, Nwora 0.
MILWAUKEE 130 — G. Antetokounmpo 26, Lillard 23, Middleton 19, B. Lopez 16, Beauchamp 12, Portis 9, Beasley 8, Jackson 7, Payne 7, Connaughton 3, T. Antetokounmpo 0, Livingston 0, R. Lopez 0.
Quarterscores: 33-31, 66-68, 113-97, 142-130.
