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 [May 03, 2024]
Obi Toppin scored 21 points and T.J. McConnell added 20 as
the Indiana Pacers eliminated the Milwaukee Bucks with a 120-98
victory on Thursday in Game 6 of an Eastern Conference first-round
series in Indianapolis.
Toppin contributed eight rebounds and McConnell had nine assists as
the sixth-seeded Pacers enjoyed a decisive 50-10 edge in bench
points to record a 4-2 win in the best-of-seven series.
"Our bench has been great all season long, appreciate this guy
(McConnell) for that," Toppin said. "... Everybody on our team knows
their job, and we just give 110 percent."
Indiana advanced to the second round to face the second-seeded New
York Knicks, who eliminated the seventh-seeded Philadelphia 76ers
with a 118-115 win on Thursday. Game 1 is scheduled for Monday in
New York.
Pascal Siakam scored 19 points, Tyrese Haliburton collected 17
points and 10 assists and Aaron Nesmith had 15 points to send the
Pacers to their first playoff series win since 2014.
"Lot of respect to Milwaukee's team," Indiana coach Rick Carlisle
said. "... To knock them out is difficult. It is really difficult.
Congratulations to our guys. First time in 10 years our fans have
had this kind of feeling."
Indiana shot a robust 54.1 percent from the floor and held a 21-6
edge in fastbreak points to defeat Milwaukee for the fifth time in
as many home games during the regular season and playoffs.
Milwaukee's Damian Lillard scored 28 points in his return from a
two-game absence caused by right Achilles tendinitis.
Brook Lopez scored 20 points and Bobby Portis added 20 to go along
with 15 rebounds for the third-seeded Bucks, who made just 7 of 27
attempts (25.9 percent) from 3-point range.
Milwaukee played the entire series without two-time NBA MVP Giannis
Antetokounmpo, who sustained a calf injury on April 9.
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May 2, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese
Haliburton (0) shoots the ball while Milwaukee Bucks forward Khris
Middleton (22) defends during game six of the first round for the
2024 NBA playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor
Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
"Injuries are just part of it. I've had,
personally, just a horrendous streak," Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers
said. "Joel (Embiid), all three years in Philadelphia, hurt. Last
couple of years with the Clippers with Chris Paul and Blake
(Griffin), hurt. I say this all the time, winning is incredibly
hard. It takes 12-15 players turning themselves into one and buying
in. Your staff being together as one. And then health -- and you
still may not win."
Lillard drained a 3-pointer to help Milwaukee bolt out to a 13-6
lead before Indiana scored 23 of the game's next 29 points. The
Pacers extended their advantage to 59-45 in the last minute of the
first half when Toppin converted an alley-oop pass from Haliburton.
The Bucks trimmed the deficit to 85-78 with 1:05 left in the third
quarter before Indiana answered by scoring the next 11 points.
McConnell had a driving layup and two 3-pointers during that run.
Milwaukee pulled within 14 points before the Pacers countered with
six in a row, capped by Ben Sheppard's 3-pointer with 8:07 remaining
in the fourth quarter. The outcome was not in doubt the rest of the
way.
--Field Level Media
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