After dropping a tight game against Philadelphia, the Milwaukee Bucks return to Fiserv Forum to face their regional rivals, the Indiana Pacers, who come in on the second night of a back-to-back. The Bucks have slumped to 0-3, losing to Washington, Chicago, and Philadelphia, and they’ll want at least one win as they begin a three-game home stretch. Milwaukee has important questions to answer, especially about its porous defence, which has allowed 129 points per game in the early season, the league’s
most.
The Task Ahead
With floor general Tyrese Haliburton back from a torn Achilles, the Pacers have started the season solidly at 2-1 (granted, the wins came against New Orleans and Brooklyn). Notably, Ivica Zubac suffered an ankle injury last night against the Nets and, per reports, is unlikely to play tonight.
The key storyline of Indiana’s season so far has been Haliburton, who has picked up right where he left off, averaging 21.7 PPG on .533/.353/.917 shooting splits, plus 9.7 APG, 1.3 SPG, and 0.7 BPG. His superb vision, aided by a slender 6’5” build, has allowed his teammates to thrive too. Obi Toppin is averaging 16.3 PPG off the bench, while Andrew Nembhard (16.0 PPG), Aaron Nesmith (11.0 PPG), and Ivica Zubac (9.0 PPG) have all been key contributors. However, Haliburton’s most prominent co-star has been Pascal Siakam, who is posting 24.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG, and 3.3 APG. Suffice to say, the Hali-Siakam connection is alive and well.
That said, Indiana has struggled at times early in the season, most notably in a rough first half against Dallas, who handed them their only loss so far. The Pacers turned the ball over 13 times and let the Mavs consistently penetrate the paint and bully them inside. Indy lacked urgency on offence, struggled to shoot, and grew so frustrated that a scuffle broke out at the end of the half when Aaron Nesmith made a hard foul on Cooper Flagg. The point being: Indiana has certainly looked strong at times, but they’re certainly not unbeatable. The Pacers come in tonight tired and (likely) without their starting center; the Bucks have a shot.
Injury Report
Bucks:
- Clean injury report
Pacers:
- Not yet submitted, as they played last night. But as mentioned, Ivica Zubac left on crutches after spraining his ankle and is unlikely to play.
Player to Watch
Pascal Siakam has been searingly hot for Indiana through their first three games. Siakam’s been clicking from long range, and his athleticism has translated into dominance on the glass. He also stepped into a playmaking role in Indiana’s recent win over Brooklyn, posting six assists. The veteran has looked very good with Haliburton back in the lineup, and he could very easily trouble Milwaukee’s underperforming bigs.
Projected Starters
Game Details
Who: Milwaukee Bucks (0-3) vs. Indiana Pacers (2-1).
When: 7:00 p.m. CDT
Where: Fiserv Forum—Milwaukee, WI.
Watch: MY24.
Listen: Check local listings.
Prescient Prediction
The Pacers continue to catch fire from three. Indiana shot 49% from deep against Brooklyn after two struggling games. The Bucks allowed the 76ers to catch fire in their Saturday loss, with Philly shooting 43%. Coming off a successful shooting night on Sunday and the likely addition of seven-foot sharpshooter Jay Huff into the rotation, expect the Pacers to hit their shots in the land of plenty.
