Bucks Praised By NBA Fans for Forcing Game 6 vs. Pacers with Giannis, Lillard Out

Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIMay 1, 2024

Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Despite playing without stars Giannis Antetokounmpo (left calf strain) and Damian Lillard (right Achilles tendinitis), the Milwaukee Bucks fought off playoff elimination by crushing the Indiana Pacers 115-92 in Game 5 of their first-round Eastern Conference postseason series on Tuesday.

Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis each scored 29 points for the Bucks, who now trail the Pacers 3-2 in the best-of-seven matchup. Both players also dominated the boards, with Middleton grabbing 12 and Portis adding 10. Patrick Beverley contributed a 13-point, 12-rebound double-double, and the Bucks outscored the Pacers by 36 with him on the floor.

With that, the Bucks made some NBA playoff history, per ESPN Research Producer Matt Williams.

Bleacher Report @BleacherReportBucks made playoff HISTORY tonight by getting the W without Dame and Giannis 🔥

(h/t @StatsWilliams) pic.twitter.com/nBCMYe6TwV

Indiana led 31-23 after one quarter and once held a 10-point advantage, but the Bucks outscored the Pacers 30-17 in the second and 34-19 in the third to cruise into the final frame with an 87-67 lead. Milwaukee’s defense was sensational, holding the league’s highest-scoring team to under 100 points for the second time this series. The Pacers notably scored under 100 just once all season before the playoffs.

And so the Bucks remain alive and have two days to potentially get Antetokounmpo and/or Lillard back for Game 6. Bucks head coach Doc Rivers told reporters postgame that he thought both were “very, very, very close.”

We’ll see if that comes to fruition, but credit to the remaining Bucks for a sensational performance to keep Milwaukee’s season alive:

NBA Memes @NBAMemesThe Milwaukee Bucks without Giannis and Dame pic.twitter.com/FIpXGEQLVu

Bucks Lead @BucksLeadIt’s pretty unfathomable how this game went after how the Pacers shot in the first quarter 🤯 pic.twitter.com/eGadoZxKgU

Bucks Nation @MKEBucksNationKHRIS MIDDLETON APPRECIATION POST 🫡 pic.twitter.com/5bROgCQ604

C.J. @OneGoodThingAbout to throw up the Go Fund Me for the Khris Middleton statue at halftime. Build that shit, Bucks. And make sure no one ever wears 22 again.

BucksShowYo🦌 @BucksShowYoCANCUN WILL HAVE TO WAIT

BUCKS IN 7

WHAT A WIN https://t.co/DynIiigJAG pic.twitter.com/6fU99Y2eUj

KENNY BEECHAM @KOT4QSuch an amazing defensive game by The Bucks

BucksShowYo🦌 @BucksShowYoKhris Middleton and Patrick Beverly pic.twitter.com/ob86zj8dI3

Andy Gorzalski @AndyGorzalski#22 in the rafters, one of the greatest Milwaukee @bucks of our lifetime and any lifetime. KHRIS MIDDLETON. 29 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists in 40 minutes. pic.twitter.com/2fd4BAPUX2

Justin Wills @itsjwillsThis is like rooting for the old underdog Bucks being led by John Salmons

Pratik @PatelESPNno matter what happens in this series this hospital bucks game 5 performance will live forever

Game 6 will take place on Thursday in Indianapolis. A Pacer win ends the series. A Bucks win forces a Game 7 in Milwaukee on Saturday.