Indiana Pacers 102–110 Milwaukee Bucks: match recap

Match recap

Milwaukee's defense and rebounding dominance (61-48) ground down Indiana despite a 22-9-6 showing from Tyrese Haliburton. Tyler Herro's 23-point double-double and Kel'el Ware's 16-14 bench burst powered the Bucks past a shorthanded Pacers squad.

The Bucks leaned on second-chance opportunities and home-court energy from the opening tip, quickly establishing a double-digit lead behind Ryan Rollins' 19 points and Kyle Kuzma's 4-of-6 from deep. Indiana fought back behind Haliburton's playmaking and Pascal Siakam's 20-13-6 line, closing within single digits midway through the fourth, but Milwaukee's 61 rebounds—13 more than the Pacers—extinguished every run. The Pacers shot just 27.1% from three (13-of-48) and got only 32 bench points against a Bucks reserve unit that included Ware's monster double-double and 37 points off the bench.

Key factors

• Milwaukee owned the glass (61-48), turning missed shots into extra possessions and limiting Indiana's transition chances.
• Both teams shot efficiently from the field (even split in shooting efficiency), but the Bucks' 29.5% three-point mark edged Indiana's 27.1%.
• Indiana's injury-depleted backcourt (Nembhard, McConnell, Sheppard all out) forced heavy minutes on Haliburton and limited ball pressure.

The Analyst's take

The 73.1–26.9 model share reflected Milwaukee's control on the glass and home floor—a formula that neutralized Indiana's shot-making. Without Nembhard and McConnell, the Pacers lacked the backcourt depth to sustain their offensive rhythm against a Bucks team that can survive shooting nights by punishing misses. Indiana's next games will test whether its half-court execution can compensate for rebounding deficits.