Bucks Rally to Claim Game 3 Victory Over Pacers in Playoffs

Milwaukee, WI – The Milwaukee Bucks rallied on Friday night, defeating the Indiana Pacers 117-101 in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series. After dropping the first two games, the Bucks needed a win to avoid falling into a 3-0 deficit.

Despite a sluggish first half, where the Bucks trailed the Pacers 57-47 at halftime, the team exploded in the third quarter, outscoring Indiana 39-18, flipping the game in their favor.

ESPN NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins criticized the Bucks during halftime, stating, “The Bucks are trash. The truth hurts. They’re a team that plays individual basketball, don’t play together, don’t compete.” The Bucks seemed to respond to the criticism, coming out strong in the second half.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the charge, finishing the night with 37 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists. He was supported by Gary Trent Jr., who matched his scoring performance with 37 points of his own, shooting 11-for-16 from the floor and 9-for-12 from beyond the arc.

This remarkable performance made Antetokounmpo and Trent the first pair of teammates in Bucks history to each score 37 points in a playoff game, a feat only achieved by 16 duos in NBA postseason history.

As the series continues, the Bucks will look to tie things up in Game 4 on Sunday, where they will play again in front of their home crowd. With their second-half performance, the team’s morale has significantly improved, giving them hope for the remainder of the series.