Short-handed Bucks still on point in 119-109 win at Indiana
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Giannis Antetokounmpo went into attack mode with the defending NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks playing short-handed Monday night.
He carried them to another victory.
Antetokounmpo finished with 30 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, and Khris Middleton added 27 points to help the Bucks beat Indiana 119-109.
''It was really aggressive Giannis tonight,'' coach Mike Budenholzer said. ''At the same time, he making reads, making great passes. When he's attacking like that, that's when we are at our best. He had that extra gear tonight.''
It showed on a night Budenholzer held out two injured starters - center Brook Lopez and guard Jrue Holiday - as well as key backup Bobby Portis. Thanks to Antetokounmpo and Middleton, they still had enough scoring punch to pull away from the Pacers early and hold off a late charge.
Indiana has lost three of its first four games under new coach Rick Carlisle, this time with Malcolm Brogdon scoring 25 points and Domantas Sabonis with 21 points, 13 rebounds and five assists
The Pacers never led after Middleton closed the first quarter with a four-point play that broke a 30-30 tie and couldn't get closer than three the rest of the game.
''The fourth quarter was encouraging,'' Carlisle said. ''We held them to 18 points and made some runs. The other three quarters were uneven and not good enough. We've got some things to do better and need to clean up.''
Antetokounmpo certainly can cause those problems - and he did repeatedly against the Pacers.
The Bucks extended the lead to 57-46 midway through the second quarter and fended off one challenge when Sabonis' spinning layup made it 60-57 by responded with the final six points of the first half. Milwaukee extended the lead to 83-66 in the third, only to watch Indiana close to 107-102 with 6:21 left in the game.
But Antetounkmpo helped force a key turnover and the Bucks rebuilt their lead.
''Credit Giannis and just his defensive action there, to get that turnover was big,'' Budenholzer said. ''He was special in the paint tonight.''
TIP-INS
Bucks: Grayson Allen went 4 of 9 for 3-pointers and finished with 19 points. Pat Connaughton had 13 points. ... Middleton also had seven assists. ... The Bucks had 13 steals. ... Lopez (sore back), Jrue Holiday (left ankle) and Portis (sore back) weren't Milwaukee's only missing players. Guard Donte DiVencenzo (left ankle) and forward Semi Ojeley (left calf) also sat out. ... The Bucks have won five straight in the series and are 39-4 against Central Division foes under coach Mike Budenholzer's tenure.
Pacers: Chris Duarte had 18 points, Justin Holiday finished with 12 and Jeremy Lamb scored 11. ... Myles Turner had five points and four rebounds but played only 14 minutes after getting into early foul trouble. ... The Pacers held a 47-42 rebounding advantage, giving up just seven offensive rebounds. But they had 19 turnovers and were 14 of 36 on 3-pointers. ... Carlisle still needs one win to tie Nate McMillan (183) for the third-most in the franchise's NBA history.
TRASH TALKING
The game was marred by a brief shouting match midway through the fourth quarter, which occurred on a tie-up between Brogdon and Bucks guard George Hill underneath the Pacers basket. But the bigger issue came when Middleton and Goga Bitadze wound up on the court. Bitadze was pulled out of the pile by the seat of his pants. Hill and Bitadze were each given technical fouls following a replay review.
IT'S THE SHOES
Turner wore custom-designed shoes as part of a contest sponsored by Mountain Dew. The shoes came in the Pacers team colors, blue and gold. One shoe came with an Indianapolis city flag while the other included Indiana's nickname and the Pacers team logo.
UP NEXT
Bucks: Host Minnesota on Wednesday.
Pacers: In Toronto on Wednesday in the first of two matchups this week.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Thanasis Antetokounmpo vs. Myles Turner (Malcolm Brogdon gains possession) | ||
| 11:50 |  | Thanasis Antetokounmpo shooting foul (Domantas Sabonis draws the foul) | ||
| 11:50 | | Domantas Sabonis misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 11:50 | | Pacers offensive rebound | ||
| 11:50 | | +1 | Domantas Sabonis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 0-1 |
| 11:35 | | Thanasis Antetokounmpo misses two point layup | ||
| 11:29 | | Justin Holiday defensive rebound | ||
| 11:20 | | +2 | Chris Duarte makes two point jump shot (Malcolm Brogdon assists) | 0-3 |
| 11:05 | | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes two point reverse layup | 2-3 |
| 10:54 | | +2 | Malcolm Brogdon makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 2-5 |
| 10:40 | | +2 | Khris Middleton makes two point jump shot | 4-5 |
| 10:28 | | +2 | Malcolm Brogdon makes two point finger roll layup (Domantas Sabonis assists) | 4-7 |
| 10:21 | | Myles Turner shooting foul (Giannis Antetokounmpo draws the foul) | ||
| 10:21 | | +1 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 5-7 |
| 10:21 | | +1 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 6-7 |
| 10:12 | | Myles Turner misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:08 | | George Hill defensive rebound | ||
| 10:00 | | Khris Middleton misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:57 | | Chris Duarte defensive rebound | ||
| 9:45 | | Domantas Sabonis turnover (lost ball) (Thanasis Antetokounmpo steals) | ||
| 9:41 | | +2 | George Hill makes two point reverse layup (Khris Middleton assists) | 8-7 |
| 9:17 | | +2 | Domantas Sabonis makes two point turnaround jump shot | 8-9 |
| 9:09 | | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes two point driving layup | 10-9 |
| 9:09 | | Myles Turner shooting foul (Giannis Antetokounmpo draws the foul) | ||
| 9:09 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | ||
| 9:08 | | Domantas Sabonis defensive rebound | ||
| 8:59 | | Justin Holiday misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:55 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo defensive rebound | ||
| 8:52 | | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes two point dunk | 12-9 |
| 8:39 | | Grayson Allen blocks Malcolm Brogdon's two point driving layup | ||
| 8:36 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo defensive rebound | ||
| 8:29 | | Khris Middleton misses two point dunk | ||
| 8:25 | | Oshae Brissett defensive rebound | ||
| 8:18 | | Chris Duarte misses two point jump shot | ||
| 8:16 | | George Hill defensive rebound | ||
| 8:10 | | George Hill misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:07 | | Domantas Sabonis defensive rebound | ||
| 8:00 | | +3 | Justin Holiday makes three point step back jump shot (Domantas Sabonis assists) | 12-12 |
| 7:36 | | Khris Middleton turnover (bad pass) (Justin Holiday steals) | ||
| 7:26 | | Justin Holiday misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:24 | | Grayson Allen defensive rebound | ||
| 7:22 | | Oshae Brissett shooting foul (Grayson Allen draws the foul) | ||
| 7:22 | | +1 | Grayson Allen makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 13-12 |
| 7:22 | | +1 | Grayson Allen makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 14-12 |
| 7:10 | | Malcolm Brogdon turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 6:55 | | Khris Middleton misses two point jump shot | ||
| 6:53 | | Domantas Sabonis defensive rebound | ||
| 6:44 | | Pacers 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:40 | | +3 | Malcolm Brogdon makes three point jump shot | 14-15 |
| 6:13 | | Pat Connaughton misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 6:11 | | Domantas Sabonis defensive rebound | ||
| 5:52 | | +2 | Domantas Sabonis makes two point driving layup | 14-17 |
| 5:32 | | Pat Connaughton misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:30 | | Pat Connaughton offensive rebound | ||
| 5:27 | | +2 | Khris Middleton makes two point layup (Pat Connaughton assists) | 16-17 |
| 5:15 | | +3 | Oshae Brissett makes three point jump shot (Malcolm Brogdon assists) | 16-20 |
| 5:03 | | Domantas Sabonis personal foul (Khris Middleton draws the foul) | ||
| 4:55 | | Justin Holiday shooting foul (Khris Middleton draws the foul) | ||
| 4:55 | | +1 | Khris Middleton makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 17-20 |
| 4:55 | | +1 | Khris Middleton makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 18-20 |
| 4:38 | | +3 | Jeremy Lamb makes three point jump shot (T.J. McConnell assists) | 18-23 |
| 4:25 | | Jordan Nwora misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 4:22 | | Domantas Sabonis defensive rebound | ||
| 4:16 | | Justin Holiday misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:14 | | Khris Middleton defensive rebound | ||
| 4:06 | | Domantas Sabonis shooting foul (Khris Middleton draws the foul) | ||
| 4:06 | | +1 | Khris Middleton makes regular free throw 1 of 3 | 19-23 |
| 4:06 | | +1 | Khris Middleton makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 20-23 |
| 4:06 | | +1 | Khris Middleton makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 21-23 |
| 3:53 | | Oshae Brissett misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:49 | | Khris Middleton defensive rebound | ||
| 3:41 | | Jordan Nwora misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:39 | | Sandro Mamukelashvili offensive rebound | ||
| 3:26 | | Sandro Mamukelashvili misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:24 | | Oshae Brissett defensive rebound | ||
| 3:13 | | Justin Holiday misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:10 | | Sandro Mamukelashvili defensive rebound | ||
| 3:01 | | +2 | Jordan Nwora makes two point driving layup | 23-23 |
| 2:51 | | Rodney Hood personal foul (Jeremy Lamb draws the foul) | ||
| 2:51 | | Bucks 60 second timeout | ||
| 2:43 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo shooting foul (Goga Bitadze draws the foul) | ||
| 2:43 | | +1 | Goga Bitadze makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-24 |
| 2:43 | | +1 | Goga Bitadze makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-25 |
| 2:37 | | +3 | Rodney Hood makes three point jump shot (Giannis Antetokounmpo assists) | 26-25 |
| 2:19 | | Malcolm Brogdon misses two point driving layup | ||
| 2:15 | | Goga Bitadze offensive rebound | ||
| 2:15 | | Goga Bitadze misses two point putback layup | ||
| 2:15 | | Goga Bitadze offensive rebound | ||
| 2:14 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo blocks Goga Bitadze's two point putback layup | ||
| 2:11 | | Goga Bitadze offensive rebound | ||
| 2:10 | | +2 | Goga Bitadze makes two point reverse layup | 26-27 |
| 1:50 | | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes two point fadeaway jump shot | 28-27 |
| 1:40 | | +3 | Goga Bitadze makes three point jump shot (Jeremy Lamb assists) | 28-30 |
| 1:24 | | Jordan Nwora misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:23 | | Malcolm Brogdon defensive rebound | ||
| 1:16 | | Goga Bitadze misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:11 | | Oshae Brissett offensive rebound | ||
| 1:09 | | Oshae Brissett turnover (bad pass) (Rodney Hood steals) | ||
| 1:07 | | Goga Bitadze personal foul (Take) (Giannis Antetokounmpo draws the foul) | ||
| 1:07 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 1:07 | | Bucks offensive rebound | ||
| 1:07 | | +1 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 29-30 |
| 0:53 | | Malcolm Brogdon misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:51 | | Goga Bitadze offensive rebound | ||
| 0:38 | | Jeremy Lamb misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:35 | | Rodney Hood defensive rebound | ||
| 0:31 | | Rodney Hood misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:28 | | T.J. McConnell defensive rebound | ||
| 0:28 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo personal foul (T.J. McConnell draws the foul) | ||
| 0:28 | | Rick Carlisle technical foul | ||
| 0:28 | | +1 | Pat Connaughton makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 30-30 |
| 0:12 | | Oshae Brissett misses two point layup | ||
| 0:11 | | Jordan Nwora defensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | +3 | Khris Middleton makes three point fadeaway jump shot (George Hill assists) | 33-30 |
| 0:00 | | End of period | ||
| 0:00 | | Goga Bitadze shooting foul (Khris Middleton draws the foul) | ||
| 0:00 | | +1 | Khris Middleton makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 34-30 |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:50 | | Thanasis Antetokounmpo turnover (back court violation) | ||
| 11:36 | | T.J. McConnell misses two point jump shot | ||
| 11:33 | | Pat Connaughton defensive rebound | ||
| 11:29 | | Justin Robinson misses two point jump shot | ||
| 11:27 | | Pacers defensive rebound | ||
| 11:17 | | Malcolm Brogdon offensive foul (Charge) (Justin Robinson draws the foul) | ||
| 11:17 | | Malcolm Brogdon turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 11:05 | | Grayson Allen misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 11:01 | | Thanasis Antetokounmpo offensive rebound | ||
| 11:01 | | +2 | Thanasis Antetokounmpo makes two point putback layup | 36-30 |
| 10:58 | | Myles Turner turnover (bad pass) (Justin Robinson steals) | ||
| 10:55 | | Justin Robinson turnover (bad pass) (Justin Holiday steals) | ||
| 10:49 | | T.J. McConnell turnover (lost ball) (Justin Robinson steals) | ||
| 10:46 | | +2 | Justin Robinson makes two point finger roll layup (Jordan Nwora assists) | 38-30 |
| 10:45 | | Pacers 60 second timeout | ||
| 10:32 | | +2 | T.J. McConnell makes two point turnaround jump shot | 38-32 |
| 10:11 | | +3 | Grayson Allen makes three point jump shot (Khris Middleton assists) | 41-32 |
| 10:01 | | +3 | Myles Turner makes three point jump shot (T.J. McConnell assists) | 41-35 |
| 9:50 | | Grayson Allen misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:47 | | Malcolm Brogdon defensive rebound | ||
| 9:40 | | Malcolm Brogdon misses two point reverse layup | ||
| 9:38 | | Pat Connaughton defensive rebound | ||
| 9:26 | | Thanasis Antetokounmpo offensive foul (T.J. McConnell draws the foul) | ||
| 9:26 | | Thanasis Antetokounmpo turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 9:07 | | +2 | Malcolm Brogdon makes two point floating jump shot (Myles Turner assists) | 41-37 |
| 8:55 | | Torrey Craig shooting foul (Pat Connaughton draws the foul) | ||
| 8:55 | | Pat Connaughton misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 8:55 | | Bucks offensive rebound | ||
| 8:55 | | +1 | Pat Connaughton makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 42-37 |
| 8:39 | | George Hill personal foul (Myles Turner draws the foul) | ||
| 8:30 | | Chris Duarte misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:27 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo defensive rebound | ||
| 8:22 | | Giannis Antetokounmpo misses two point jump shot | ||
| 8:18 | | Torrey Craig defensive rebound | ||
| 8:02 | | Myles Turner turnover (bad pass) (Grayson Allen steals) | ||
| 8:00 | | T.J. McConnell personal foul (Take) (Giannis Antetokounmpo draws the foul) | ||
| 7:51 | | +2 | Khris Middleton makes two point finger roll layup (George Hill assists) | 44-37 |
| 7:35 | | +2 | Domantas Sabonis makes two point finger roll layup | 44-39 |
| 7:24 | | +3 | Khris Middleton makes three point jump shot | 47-39 |
| 7:12 | | Oshae Brissett misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:10 | | Jordan Nwora defensive rebound | ||
| 7:04 | | +2 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes two point dunk | 49-39 |
| 7:04 | | Pacers 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:52 | | +2 | Chris Duarte makes two point jump shot (Malcolm Brogdon assists) | 49-41 |
| 6:37 | | Khris Middleton misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 6:34 | | Oshae Brissett defensive rebound | ||
| 6:31 | | Jordan Nwora personal foul (Domantas Sabonis draws the foul) | ||
| 6:20 | | Chris Duarte turnover (bad pass) (George Hill steals) | ||
| 6:17 | | Malcolm Brogdon shooting foul (Giannis Antetokounmpo draws the foul) | ||
| 6:17 | | +1 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 50-41 |
| 6:17 | | +1 | Giannis Antetokounmpo makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 51-41 |
| 6:04 |