Vacation sparks late rally as Bucks beat Pacers 132-119

Jrue Vacation scored a season-high 35 factors to associate with 11 assists and the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Indiana Pacers 132-119 on Monday with out two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The Bucks performed a 3rd consecutive sport with out Antetokounmpo on account of left knee soreness. The Pacers had been lacking main scorer and NBA assists chief Tyrese Haliburton for a 3rd straight sport on account of a left elbow sprain and a gentle left knee bone bruise.

Vacation shot 13 of 19 total and 5 of 8 from 3-point vary whereas gathering his third straight double-double. The Bucks went 23 of 46 from past the arc and had their highest whole of 3-point baskets this season.

Myles Turner returned for Indiana after lacking three video games with again spasms and scored 30 factors for the Pacers, who misplaced their fourth straight. T.J. McConnell added a career-high 29 factors – 25 within the first half – and had 9 assists.

After falling behind by as many as 13, the Bucks pulled forward 101-100 on Grayson Allen’s 3-pointer with 10:04 left within the sport, the primary time the Pacers had trailed because the opening quarter. Indiana responded with consecutive baskets from Andrew Nembhard and Jalen Smith.

The sport went back-and-forth from there, as the primary 4 1/2 minutes of the fourth quarter featured 5 lead adjustments.

Jordan Nwora’s 3-pointer with 7:40 left put the Bucks forward for good at 108-107 and commenced a 7-0 run that included two baskets from Vacation.

Bobby Portis had 21 factors and 11 rebounds for the Bucks. Brook Lopez had 19 factors, Grayson Allen 17 and Nwora 14.

Buddy Hield scored 18 and Bennedict Mathurin added 12 for the Pacers.

Indiana led many of the method due to the quick begin by McConnell, who entered the day scoring simply 6 factors per sport.

Throughout his 25-point first half, McConnell shot 9 of 9 from the ground, together with 4 of 4 from 3-point vary, and three of three from the free-throw line whereas taking part in 17 minutes. He additionally handed out six assists.

The Pacers shot 60.9% within the first half and had a 76-65 lead on the break. McConnell did not miss a shot till 5:45 remained within the third quarter.

Tip-ins

Pacers: Indiana matched its highest first-half level whole of the season. Indiana additionally scored 76 factors within the first half of a 136-133 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Dec. 10.

Bucks: Coach Mike Budenholzer stated earlier than the sport {that a} determination hadn’t been reached on whether or not Antetokounmpo would play Wednesday in opposition to the Toronto Raptors. “We proceed to assume it is form of the stuff that he and us have handled, for me it is every year that I have been right here,” Budenholzer stated. “We do not assume it is something greater than that. Him being wholesome, taking good care of him is at all times our precedence. We’re most likely at all times going to err on the facet of warning. We all know how necessary he’s to us.”

Up subsequent

Pacers: At Oklahoma Metropolis on Wednesday.

Bucks: Host Toronto on Tuesday. Of their solely earlier assembly this season, the Bucks gained 104-101 in time beyond regulation at Toronto on Jan. 4.