Pacers Beat Bucks in Game 2 - Notes and Observations

In Game 1, the Indiana Pacers opened up a quick lead thanks to their easy offense, then kept the Milwaukee Bucks away for the rest of the night thanks to, in large part, the ease at which they could generate quality shots.

In Game 2, the Indiana Pacers opened up a quick lead thanks to their easy offense, then kept the Milwaukee Bucks away for the rest of the night thanks to, in large part, the ease at which they could generate quality shots.

The two battles were drastically different in many ways. Damian Lillard played in Game 2 after missing Game 1. Tyrese Haliburton was much better in the second outing, and the Bucks re-captured their long-range jump shooting form. Kyle Kuzma put stats on the board, and the visitors were within two late.

But the main theme from Game 1 ended up being the key to Game 2, hence the copy-pasted opening paragraphs. As the Pacers lead fell to 115-113 and anxiety entered Gainbridge Fieldhouse thanks to a 13-0 Bucks run, Indiana did what they always do – they generated a wide-open three, and Pascal Siakam drilled it.

Possessions like that are the reason the Pacers have the second-best offense in the postseason to date. They are crushing the assist-to-turnover ratio department and hardly ever coughing up the ball. Combine that with terrific possessions on almost every trip, and it's no wonder the Pacers have been able to keep the Bucks away.

"We're prepared, and I feel like we’ve done a great job of adjusting to whatever is being thrown at us," Haliburton told reporters after the game.

Game 2 observations and notes are posted below, featuring the scatterbrained things I typed in Google Sheets during the game. For audio analysis, check out the Locked On Pacers podcast. Subscribe for email content or exclusive stories in the box below.

1. Siakam had a ton of joy during his player introduction... as did Haliburton, who was surrounded by his teammates as they all sang "Many Men".
2. Two early misses from Kuzma have let the Pacers push for easy baskets. The Pacers have to be thrilled to see Milwaukee's first three shots come from Kuzma, Kuzma, and Brook Lopez. Giannis Antetokounmpo didn't attempt a field goal until the Bucks fifth shot. Milwaukee wants to get others involved, but how much can they?
3. A quartet of fans sitting courtside – right next to the Pacers bench – is wearing hunting gear for a game against the Bucks.
4. Andrew Nembhard, as expected, is defending Lillard. And the Pacers are comfortable trapping him far from the rim.
5. Lillard, meanwhile, is defending Aaron Nesmith, and it appears that the Bucks are willing to sit in a zone at times even against the Pacers opening five. The blue and gold have found some high-low combos in the paint that have utility against zones.
6. Two drives that stand out to me – one from Antetokounmpo where he saw FOUR Pacers defenders at the cup (Indiana wanted to keep him away from the rim tonight) and one from Tyrese Haliburton where he skated by Brook Lopez (he hoped to get the same shots in both Game 1 and 2 despite an off start to the series percentage wise).
7. Pacers fans are counting to 10 against as Antetokounmpo hits the foul line. I think it helps his rhythm. I also think it helps fans stay engaged. Harmless fun so far, and the two-time MVP has missed quite a few at the stripe in this series so far. These stoppages are also important pockets of rest for... well everyone.
8. Kevin Porter Jr. and Lillard are on the floor at the same time. That's a first in this series, and T.J. McConnell is the opposing backcourt pairing. Can the Pacers get enough stops here? (Answer: irrelevant, the Pacers changed their rotation to bring Jarace Walker in for Haliburton).
9. Thomas Bryant had two tough possessions to start off the second quarter, one on each end of the floor. He's been rock solid every play afterward. Hand up on the error – I didn't expect him to play or be useful in this series, but he has so far. Bryant, emotive as ever, was amped after stopping the Greek Freak in the lane.
10. What a dart from McConnell over the top of a zone defense to get Walker an open three. Significant in any way that those two can thrive together against a zone defense.
11. The Bucks appear to be crashing the offensive glass more, but with little game-changing impact yet.
12. After the Pacers went up 14 at 60-46, the Bucks scored eight unanswered points as a part of a 14-4 run. It felt significant. The Pacers scored the final four points of the half, though, and a Haliburton dunk in the middle of Milwaukee's surge kept the crowd engaged. That was a big play.
13. Easy shot for the Pacers against a Bucks zone on the first play of the second half, and the Bucks go right to man-to-man defense.
14. Someone is in the dunker spot much more often for Indiana this half. Seems like they want to occupy low men/helpers more here to keep options open during drives at the expense of some spacing.
15. And... the above plan appears to be working. The Bucks keep switching everything, and that has led to easy baskets for Siakam and Haliburton attacking Lopez. Down low, Lillard has been switched on to bigs like Myles Turner more than once, and the Pacers figured it out quickly.
16. Nesmith upped his finishing during the last few months of the regular season, but he's had some r0ugh moments in the paint today. He's more than made up for it with three-point makes.
17. The Bucks are playing their best players more this half. Telling for the next game. It seems obvious that their starting five will change in Game 3.
18. Porter Jr. was great to end the regular season for the Bucks. He's had some rough turnovers tonight and just looked off Giannis TWICE in the post on one possession. The Pacers are fortunate he hasn't been better.
19. I don't feel like the Pacers played particularly well in the third quarter... and they expanded their lead. They've gotta feel good.
20. Bennedict Mathurin has been a little bit more ball-stopy tonight than in Game 1 but has still been quite effective. His fit in > stand out style so far has been the right balance. He'll have a big game in this postseason.
21. Is the Bucks defense bad? Or is the Pacers offense so good that it's making them look bad? If it's the latter, my Pacers in 7 prediction will be wrong because it will be a shorter series than that. It's 115-100 now with 5:30-ish to go.
22. The Bucks are on a run, and they are planting Lillard off the ball in the corner or on the wing. The Pacers have to respect him, and Giannis has scored or assisted on 11-straight Milwaukee points.
23. Lillard for three, his first points of the second half and 14th overall... and it caps off a 13-0 Bucks run. It's a two-point game now. Siakam was out for a long time and the Pacers settled for jumpers without drives on offense. That's when they've been at their worst in this series.
24. Siakam, a huge three to end Milwaukee's run. Wide open. Not long after, Nembhard drills one over Antetokounmpo. Decidedly not wide open, but Indiana leads by eight now and should win.
25. And they do. 123-115. Hairy for a second there, but it's 2-0 Pacers.

Game 3 is on Friday in Milwaukee. I'll be there. This is the first story on this website, so bear with me as I sort out what I want these gamers to look like. And please subscribe!