Bucks and Pacers Tangle in Game 6
The Milwaukee Bucks take on the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal-round series. The Pacers lead the series, 3-2.
The Bucks (2-3) had a very bleak outlook heading into Tuesday night's Game 5 home matchup, earning underdog status due to the ongoing absences of their two best players. However, Milwaukee showed plenty of grip in bouncing back from an eight-point first-quarter deficit to gain control of the game with a 64-36 advantage in the middle periods on the way to a 115-92 victory. Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis co-led the Bucks with 29-point contributions while pulling down 12 and 10 rebounds, respectively. Middleton adding five assists. Malik Beasley delivered 18 points, five rebounds and two steals. Patrick Beverley generated a 13-point, 12-assist double-double that included four rebounds, two steals and one block. Brook Lopez finished with 12 points, three rebounds and two blocks.
The Bucks will list Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) and Damian Lillard (Achilles) as doubtful for Thursday's game. Middleton (ankle) and Beverley (oblique) will be listed as probable.
The Pacers (3-2) would have naturally liked to close out the series in Game 5, but they didn't help themselves by shooting just 61.5 percent from the free-throw line. Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 16 points, supplementing them with six assists and four rebounds. Myles Turner supplied 13 points, five boards and three assists. Obi Toppin furnished 12 points, six rebounds and four assists. Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard matched Toppin's scoring while adding four rebounds and five assists, respectively, among other contributions.
The Pacers will list Haliburton (back) as questionable for Thursday's game.
Thursday's game marks the 11th meeting between the teams since the start of the regular season. The Pacers have won seven of the 10 games.
The Bucks (2-3) had a very bleak outlook heading into Tuesday night's Game 5 home matchup, earning underdog status due to the ongoing absences of their two best players. However, Milwaukee showed plenty of grip in bouncing back from an eight-point first-quarter deficit to gain control of the game with a 64-36 advantage in the middle periods on the way to a 115-92 victory. Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis co-led the Bucks with 29-point contributions while pulling down 12 and 10 rebounds, respectively. Middleton adding five assists. Malik Beasley delivered 18 points, five rebounds and two steals. Patrick Beverley generated a 13-point, 12-assist double-double that included four rebounds, two steals and one block. Brook Lopez finished with 12 points, three rebounds and two blocks.
The Bucks will list Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf) and Damian Lillard (Achilles) as doubtful for Thursday's game. Middleton (ankle) and Beverley (oblique) will be listed as probable.
The Pacers (3-2) would have naturally liked to close out the series in Game 5, but they didn't help themselves by shooting just 61.5 percent from the free-throw line. Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 16 points, supplementing them with six assists and four rebounds. Myles Turner supplied 13 points, five boards and three assists. Obi Toppin furnished 12 points, six rebounds and four assists. Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard matched Toppin's scoring while adding four rebounds and five assists, respectively, among other contributions.
The Pacers will list Haliburton (back) as questionable for Thursday's game.
Thursday's game marks the 11th meeting between the teams since the start of the regular season. The Pacers have won seven of the 10 games.
Sixers Host Knicks in Game 6, Down 3-2
The Philadelphia 76ers play host to the New York Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals at Wells Fargo Center on Thursday.
New York leads this series, 3-2.
The Knicks (3-2) looked to be on their way to the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals when they led by six points with 26 seconds remaining in Game 5, but they were unable to close that game in regulation or overtime. Losing on the road in the playoffs is nothing to be ashamed of but to lose a closeout game like that in such devastating fashion has to hurt this team. What also remains to be seen is if this team will have enough time to recover. Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and OG Anunoby all played at least 50 minutes in that Game 5 defeat, but workloads like that have been common all series. In any case, Brunson is happy to take on that type of role, scoring at least 39 points in three straight games. If he keeps doing that, you'd have to imagine that NY will win one of these two games to advance!
The Sixers (2-3) showed some serious grit in Game 5, grabbing a win in what looked like a guaranteed defeat. Tyrese Maxey was the hero in that victory, hitting a four-point play with 25 seconds left and then a game-tying 35-footer with 8.5 seconds left to send the game into overtime. He finished that masterpiece with 46 points, five rebounds and nine assists. Joel Embiid didn't play his best, but the 2023 MVP still had 19 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists and four blocks. He did commit nine turnovers and struggled with his shot but to say a guy with a triple-double struggled shows how dominant this superstar can be. The big man might not be 100 percent but he'll be out there every game and leave it all on the floor every night.
New York leads this series, 3-2.
The Knicks (3-2) looked to be on their way to the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals when they led by six points with 26 seconds remaining in Game 5, but they were unable to close that game in regulation or overtime. Losing on the road in the playoffs is nothing to be ashamed of but to lose a closeout game like that in such devastating fashion has to hurt this team. What also remains to be seen is if this team will have enough time to recover. Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and OG Anunoby all played at least 50 minutes in that Game 5 defeat, but workloads like that have been common all series. In any case, Brunson is happy to take on that type of role, scoring at least 39 points in three straight games. If he keeps doing that, you'd have to imagine that NY will win one of these two games to advance!
The Sixers (2-3) showed some serious grit in Game 5, grabbing a win in what looked like a guaranteed defeat. Tyrese Maxey was the hero in that victory, hitting a four-point play with 25 seconds left and then a game-tying 35-footer with 8.5 seconds left to send the game into overtime. He finished that masterpiece with 46 points, five rebounds and nine assists. Joel Embiid didn't play his best, but the 2023 MVP still had 19 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists and four blocks. He did commit nine turnovers and struggled with his shot but to say a guy with a triple-double struggled shows how dominant this superstar can be. The big man might not be 100 percent but he'll be out there every game and leave it all on the floor every night.