Pacers tighten grip on Bucks as Halliburton leads offense
On January 3, the Indiana Pacers defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 142-130 in a game that was decided by the Milwaukee Bucks. The Pacers went on a 47-24 run in the third quarter to put the game out of reach.
The Indiana Pacers tightened their grip on the Milwaukee Bucks and rode a dominant third quarter and a 31-point performance from Tyrese Halliburton to a decisive 142-130 victory.
The Pacers trailed by two points at halftime, but they played tight defense in the third quarter to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks firmly in check. They exploded on the offensive end of the floor, scoring 47 points in the game to take a 16-point lead into the final quarter.
Halliburton was the offensive mastermind, orchestrating the offense and finishing efficiently from the outside. Seven Pacers scored in double figures, showcasing their impressive depth and collective effort.
"Halliburton emphasized the team's momentum, saying, 'It's fun to win, and we're enjoying it right now.' He credited his team's defensive adjustments in the third quarter for turning things around: "We had to lock in on defense. We've scored a lot of points against them all year, so we had to find a way to stop them, and we did that in the second half.
The rivalry came to a head in the fourth quarter, when a melee erupted after Benedict Maturin drew a bad foul on Antetokounmpo. Despite the scuffle, the Pacers held on for their second straight win over the defending champions.
Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee with 26 points, but the Bucks lacked offensive rhythm with Damian Lillard (23 points) and Khris Middleton (19 points) providing limited support. Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin lamented the decisive third quarter: "The third quarter, especially since we gave up 47 points at the beginning of the third quarter, was tough for us. When you're playing catch-up, you have to execute ...... You have to be able to stop your opponent."
The win moved the Pacers (19-14) into fifth place in the Eastern Conference, while the Bucks (24-10) stayed second despite the setback.
Other NBA games
Pelicans turn back Timberwolves: Zion Williamson and C.J. McCollum combined for 51 points as the New Orleans Pelicans beat the Western Conference-leading Minnesota Timberwolves 117-106.
LeBron controlled, Heat beat Lakers: LeBron James scored just 12 points as the Miami Heat beat the Los Angeles Lakers 110-96. Tyler Herro's 21 points led the Miami Heat.
KINGS WIN IN OVERTIME: De'Aaron Fox scored five of his 15 points in the second overtime as the Sacramento Kings beat the Orlando Magic 138-135. Domantas Sabonis had a triple-double for the Kings.
Johnson helps Hawks beat Thunder Jalen Johnson scored a career-high 28 points to help the Atlanta Hawks beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 141-138, ending the Thunder's five-game winning streak.
As NBA action continues across the league, more matchups and individual battles are sure to unfold.
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