INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Pacers ended the Milwaukee Bucks' 15-game home hitting streak on Monday. Tonight, the Bucks look to end the Pacers' four-game winning streak at Cainbridge Field House. Tip-off is 6 pm CT.
Indiana (18-14) has already won three of four games to date in the season series against Milwaukee (24-9).
The Bucs outscored the Pacers 68-66 in a high-scoring first half in which all 10 Bucs scored in the game. All 10 fast bowlers who played scored. Khris Middleton led Milwaukee with 13, while Opie Taubin led Indiana with 12.
The Pacers jumped out to an early 8-3 lead and led 33-31 after the first quarter. Jalen Smith led the Pacers with seven points, hitting seven of eight Bucks in the game.
Khris Middleton is set to play for the Bucks
Three-time All-Star Khris Middleton was listed as questionable for the day with two injuries against the Pacers, but Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin said he was ready to play. He has a sprained left wrist, along with right knee injury management. Middleton underwent surgery in the summer of 2022 to repair a torn scapholunate ligament in his wrist and missed the first 20 games of the season as he recovered.
Griffin said the team will continue to monitor the wrist sprain.
The Bucks travel to San Antonio to play the Spurs on Thursday, and Middleton has yet to play in either game.
Required Reading:Bucs' Khris Middleton bounces back after tough year
What would the Bucs record be without Middleton?
Milwaukee is 4-1 in games Middleton has missed this season.
Bucs injury report
- Middleton, questionable (right knee injury management and left wrist sprain)
- Pat Connaughton, Suspected (Non-Covid)
- Jae Crowder, out (left adductor surgery) Crowder is approaching eight weeks since his Nov. 14 surgery to repair a torn adductor muscle. After that his activity gradually increased.
- A.J. Green, out (fractured nose) Bucs head coach Adrian Griffin said on Dec. Green broke his nose during the team's practice on the 31st. A practice was considered after he did not play against Indiana on Monday, but he will rejoin the Spurs. game on Thursday. However, Green is familiar with the injury. He suffered a broken nose last season in practice with the Wisconsin Herd on Oct. 28 and underwent surgery on Nov. 1. Green returned to action on November 16.
Bucks-Pacers a rivalry?:Tyrus Halliburton of Oshkosh says not yet
Is Giannis playing?
Yes.
Antetokounmpo had a triple-double against Indiana on New Year's Day. He scored 30 points, pulled down 18 rebounds and dished out 11 assists.
Bucks Vs. Pacers:Why were Giannis and teammates upset with Indiana after the Dec. 13 game?
Bucks starters
- Guards: Damian Lillard, Malik Beasley
- Forward: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton
- Center: Brooke Lopez
What happened between the Bucks and Pacers?
It was an interesting season series. First, Antetokounmpo scored 54 points at Indiana on Nov. 9, but the Bucks slipped to a double-digit lead in a loss. The Pacers then knocked the Bucks out of the in-season tournament on December 7 in the semifinals in Las Vegas.
On Dec. 13, Antetokounmpo set a franchise record with 64 points, but that led to several heated post-game conversations between players and staff on both teams. The Bucks didn't appreciate Pacers players leaving the court without shaking hands, and miscommunication about where the game ball was was part of the scene.
In the last game between the teams on Monday, the Pacers overcame two 15-point deficits to give Oshkosh's home state Tyrus Halliburton his first win as a professional in his home state.
