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Tonight, we have a great Eastern Conference showdown in the NBA on TNT. It is the first game of the usual TNT doubleheader, with the Milwaukee Bucks taking on the Indiana Pacers. With such an intriguing matchup between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Pascal Siakam, this is a must-watch TV show if you are an NBA fan.
We are going to break down the matchup between these two teams while also recapping their respective seasons so far. So, let’s get into this Bucks vs. Pacers matchup.
The Bucks started the season very slowly, with a record of just 4-9 to begin the season. Since then, they have turned it around and currently sit in the 4-5 matchup in the first round against this Indiana Pacers team.
Former MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the team in scoring (30.9 PPG) and rebounds (12.0 REB). His point guard, Damian Lillard, is also having a solid season, averaging 25.5 PPG and 7.1 AST. However, these two veteran players have dealt with missing a game here or there due to nagging injuries. Giannis has played in just 51 out of a possible 62 games, and Lillard has missed nine games himself.
With the Bucks dealing with injuries to their veterans, they decided to move on from long-time Bucks player Khris Middleton. They felt like they needed a move and got a solid return from the Wizards in Kyle Kuzma. Kuzma has started to get comfortable in his role with the Bucks, averaging 14.8 points and 7.4 rebounds a game since joining Milwaukee. If the Bucks look to make another deep playoff run, Kuzma has to be their third-best player.
Looking at the Pacers, they are well above the cut line for the Play-in Tournament, but it’s fair to say we want more from this Pacers team. They have the talent, with Tyrese Haliburton running the show alongside Pascal Siakam, who brings it on both ends of the court.
Siakam is averaging 20.8 points per game this year and 7.2 rebounds, leading the team in both categories. Someone who has not been as dependable as Siakham is Tyrese Haliburton, especially on the road. At home, he is shooting 42% from behind the arc, which is outstanding. But on the road, it drops to just around 33%. The same can be said for his points per game, which is over 20 at home and just around 16 on the road.
If the Pacers want to make a run at the Eastern Conference Finals again, they need Haliburton to figure it out on the road. They also need role players like Bennedict Mathurin and Myles Turner to step up. Both have had roller-coaster seasons so far and need to find consistency.
These two teams have met twice already this season, and the Bucks are 2-0 against the Pacers. The Bucks won the matchup in November 129-117 on the back of 37 points from Antetokounmpo. Then, when they met again on New Year’s Eve, the Bucks handled their business 120-112 after Giannis scored 30 points.
Giannis has been the driving force for Milwaukee, leading the team in scoring and consistently putting up big numbers, especially against teams like the Pacers. Indiana has struggled to contain star players this season. While they have some solid defenders like Myles Turner, Giannis’ combination of size, athleticism and skill can overwhelm most defenses, including Indiana’s. Given his recent form and the absence of consistent defense from the Pacers, Giannis is likely to exploit these weaknesses.
Considering all these factors, our Bucks vs. Pacers game pick is on Giannis to score 29+ points against the Pacers.
Dylan has had a love for sports since he was a kid. Four years ago, he decided to dive into the sports content-creating industry specializing in Fantasy Football, NFL and NBA. He has since had his work published on sites that include Fantasy Alarm, Fansided, and Fantasy Six Pack.