INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo spoke out after the team’s loss to the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Thursday night. Despite Antetokounmpo’s scoring 54 points, the Bucks were defeated 126-124, snapping their three-game winning streak.
The Pacers were able to pull out the victory after overcoming a 10-point deficit over the final seven minutes of the game. Antetokounmpo’s scoring efforts, including 16 for 18 from the free throw line and 19 of 25 from the floor, could not carry the Bucks to a win in the absence of Damian Lillard, who was sidelined due to calf soreness.
Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 29 points and 10 assists, while Khris Middleton was the second-highest scorer for the Bucks with 19 points. Despite Antetokounmpo’s extraordinary performance, his team was not able to secure the win.
Antetokounmpo, who expressed feeling strong throughout the game, acknowledged exhaustion in the fourth quarter, where he was 4-for-6 for eight points but did not make any free throws and had two crucial turnovers that allowed the Pacers to gain the lead.
Despite the impressive scoring effort, Antetokounmpo expressed disappointment at the team’s lack of victory, stating, “But at the end of the day, it did not matter, it does not matter because we didn’t get a win.”
Bucks coach Adrian Griffin was ejected from the game after receiving back-to-back technical fouls for arguing about foul calls in the third quarter. Even though the Bucks utilized a 2-3 zone with backcourt ball pressure early in the second quarter to make a resurgence in the game, their efforts were ultimately not enough to secure a win.
Unfortunately, Khris Middleton missed a potential game-tying three-pointer with 6.9 seconds left, contributing to the team’s narrow defeat. Middleton’s impact was significant throughout the game, with his aggressive play and assists that facilitated Antetokounmpo’s 50-point effort.
The loss to the Pacers puts the Bucks at 5-3 for the season. Antetokounmpo and the team now look ahead to their upcoming game against the Orlando Magic, aiming to rally for a win following their defeat against Indiana.