Pacers thump Bucks to end season-worst six-game losing streak

INDIANAPOLIS — This is why the Indiana Pacers, though it may have made some chuckle, believe they can compete with the Milwaukee Bucks. Malcolm Brogdon expressed confidence, even after they were trounced by his former team by 28 points on Dec. 22. 

The Pacers (32-23) not only returned the favor with a 118-111 victory at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Wednesday, but they ended their season-long six-game losing streak.

“We were so antsy we wanted to play this game,” said Doug McDermott. “We were sick of losing. Once we were able to get stops early we were able to push and get whatever we wanted.”

Of course, Giannis Antetokounmpo didn’t play (personal reasons) for the team with the league’s best record. He’s their best player. 

The Pacers didn’t have their best player (Victor Oladipo) in the first two matchups.

Oladipo looked better on the offensive end. The defense came out using zone, which got the Pacers out to a 25-point lead. 

The Bucks (46-8) got the deficit down to five less than two minutes into the fourth quarter, but there wasn’t a collapse this time. Brogdon, who had 10 points and five assists in the fourth quarter, closed like he’d failed to do in recent games.

“In the first half I tried to sacrifice some shots, get people involved, get people going,” he said. “I just wanted to stabilize the game.”

Despite the win, it is no time for the Pacers to get ahead of themselves. All six of their losses had come from fourth-quarter collapses, including losing an 11-point lead with 3:10 left in Toronto and a four-point lead with 50.4 seconds remaining against Brooklyn. 

The losing streak almost grew to seven. 

The edict from coach Nate McMillan, based on disastrous recent results, was simple. 

“Put together 48 minutes,” he said before tip-off. “We’re having a stretch, a lot of times it’s late, where we’re not executing, whether we’re not getting a stop, or we’re not making a basket.”

At least for one game, they responded. They need this to be the norm to make advancing in the postseason a reality.  

Standouts: T.J. Warren (35 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals) was on fire, followed by Brogdon (17 points, 13 assists, 5 rebounds), Myles Turner (14 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks), Domantas Sabonis (15 points, 8 rebounds), Oladipo (13 points, 4 assists) and Jeremy Lamb (13 points, 6 rebounds). Donte DiVincenzo (19 points) and Khris Middleton (17 points) led Milwaukee. 

Xs and Os: To beat the Bucks, the Pacers have to hit mid-range shots. Milwaukee will give them up and Warren’s game is tailor-made for it. He comes off of curls or elbow action in the paint and is comfortable shooting over 7-footers such as Brook Lopez (12 points). When the lead was cut to 88-84, Warren followed with 5 points. With the lead up to 96-86 out of a timeout, Warren chased Middleton until Lopez was called for an offensive foul trying to set a screen. Turner made his defender pay for staying in the paint by sticking the jump shot early and speaks to why he’s more valuable in this matchup than Sabonis, who shot 4-for-15. The Bucks pack the paint and they don’t allow layups. Sabonis barely grazed the rim on multiple face-up looks. Brogdon made the mid-range shot early to take advantage of the soft coverage. Milwaukee likes to force the ball into the middle, chase 3-point shooters and give up mid-range. That’s where Warren comes in. He’d shot a combined 10-for-34 in the two losses. He went 16-for-19 Wednesday. “That’s what their defense does,” McMillan said. “They try to send you to their big and force you to shoot over the top.”

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