The Milwaukee Bucks Stunned Again: Pacers Win 119-118 in OT Thriller Game 5

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (WE) — The Milwaukee Bucks will once again make an early NBA Playoffs exit — their third in a row — after falling to the Indiana Pacers 119-118 in an overtime heartbreaker. It marks the second consecutive year the Pacers have eliminated the Bucks. Giannis Antetokounmpo posted his fourth career playoff triple-double, finishing with 30 points, 20 rebounds, and 13 assists. Gary Trent Jr. had a remarkable bounce-back performance, putting up 33 points on 8-of-17 shooting from three and grabbing five steals. For Indiana, Tyrese Haliburton led the way with 26 points and nine assists.

Game Recap

After sticking with the criticized starting lineup featuring Kyle Kuzma and Brook Lopez through the first four games, Doc Rivers shuffled the deck in Game 5. He inserted AJ Green and Bobby Portis alongside Giannis, Gary Trent Jr., and Kevin Porter Jr. (filling in for the injured Damian Lillard). The change paid immediate dividends as the Bucks opened with a 13-0 blitz before Myles Turner finally got Indiana on the board.

Despite ending the drought, Milwaukee’s defense smothered the Pacers, holding them to just 13 points in the first quarter. Turner led all Pacers with five points after one. The second quarter began with a Kuzma three, but Indiana responded with an 8-0 run to cut the lead to 12. Milwaukee extended the lead again, only to stall offensively, giving Indiana a chance to chip away. Corner threes from the Pacers, including one by Aaron Nesmith, sparked a 12-2 run that pulled the game within seven. Green’s fourth three of the half briefly halted Indy’s surge, but the Pacers still outscored the Bucks 28-17 in the quarter, shrinking the lead to just six at halftime.

In the third, Andrew Nembhard — a 29% three-point shooter during the regular season — drilled a 30-foot bomb to give Indiana their first lead. The teams traded punches, and Milwaukee used a 9-2 run to take a four-point lead with five minutes left. But Pacers veteran T.J. McConnell, a constant playoff thorn for Milwaukee, scored six of Indiana’s last eight in the third, including a layup to give them the lead. A foul by Bennedict Mathurin on a three-point attempt sent Porter to the line with 0.8 seconds left. He made two of three to tie the game at 75 heading into the fourth.

Game Breakdown: A Rollercoaster of Emotions

The game was an emotional rollercoaster, with both teams showing grit, determination, and a will to win. The Bucks came out strong in the first half, building a 47–41 lead by halftime. Their dominant start was fueled by Antetokounmpo’s early success, and they seemed poised to push the Pacers to the brink of elimination. However, the Pacers regrouped in the second half, with a standout third quarter where they outscored the Bucks 34–28 to level the game at 75–75.

The fourth quarter was a tense affair, with both teams exchanging leads multiple times. With just under a minute remaining, the Bucks held a four-point advantage, threatening to extend the series. However, the Pacers fought back, and a dunk from Haliburton tied the game at 103–103, sending it into overtime.

The Final Frame & Overtime

Indiana opened the fourth strong with buckets from Nesmith and McConnell. The Bucks responded with a 9-0 run to regain the lead, but a layup from Pascal Siakam steadied the Pacers. Trent, who started 0-for-7 from deep, caught fire late, hitting four of five threes down the stretch. With time winding down, he hit a clutch triple followed by another from Green to give Milwaukee a four-point lead.

But Haliburton wasn’t done. He scored four straight points to tie the game with 10.8 seconds left. Giannis missed a mid-range fadeaway at the buzzer, sending the game into overtime knotted at 103.

In OT, Trent continued his tear, scoring 12 points on perfect 4-for-4 shooting from beyond the arc. After Nesmith’s five straight points, Trent responded with another three to restore a four-point lead. A free throw from Green made it 118-111 with just 40 seconds to go.

That’s when the wheels came off.

Trent threw a turnover directly to Nembhard, who pushed the ball up the floor. Haliburton converted a three-point play after being fouled by Green. After breaking the press, Green found Trent wide open, but the ball slipped through his fingers and out of bounds — giving Indiana the final possession. Haliburton drove past Giannis and scored with one second left to seal the win. Trent’s last-second heave missed badly.

Read More:

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Looking Ahead: Pacers Set to Face the Cleveland Cavaliers

With the win, the Pacers will advance to the second round, where they will face the Cleveland Cavaliers, a team that has impressed throughout the regular season. This matchup is sure to be a thrilling one, with the Pacers looking to continue their playoff run and possibly make a deep push for an Eastern Conference Finals appearance. The Cavaliers, led by Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley, will present a formidable challenge for Indiana.

The Pacers, meanwhile, will rely on the continued strong performances of Haliburton, Turner, and Pascal Siakam, who has provided significant contributions since his arrival in the offseason. With the Pacers’ combination of emerging talent and veteran experience, they will be looking to make a statement in the next round.

Final Box Score

Milwaukee Bucks

Milwaukee shot 45.6% overall and 47.5% from three but struggled at the line, going 17-of-26 (65.4%). The Bucks committed 17 turnovers, including two critical ones in the final seconds.

Indiana Pacers

Indiana finished shooting 46.2% from the floor and 36.4% from deep while outrebounding Milwaukee 55–60. Their bench outscored Milwaukee’s 28–9, a key difference in the game.

Key Stats from Game 5

• Gary Trent Jr. (MIL): 33 points, 5 rebounds, 5 steals
• Myles Turner (IND): 21 points, 9 rebounds
• Tyrese Haliburton (IND): 24 points, 9 assists, 3 steals
• Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL): 30 points, 20 rebounds, 13 assists

What’s Next for Indiana?

With the series win over the Milwaukee Bucks, the Indiana Pacers have set their sights on the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Their next matchup will be against the Cleveland Cavaliers, who also secured their spot after a hard-fought first-round series.

As the Pacers prepare for this crucial matchup, they’ll need to maintain the momentum built through their gritty win in Game 5. Tyrese Haliburton’s performance in the clutch, along with Myles Turner’s consistent dominance on both ends, will be key factors in the next round. However, the Pacers will also need to account for Cleveland’s formidable squad, led by their star Donovan Mitchell, who has been playing at an elite level.

The second-round series will present a different challenge, as the Cavaliers’ defense and offense are built around a combination of young talent and experienced veterans. Indiana’s ability to adapt, particularly in the areas of transition defense and limiting turnovers, will be crucial.

Stay tuned as the Pacers look to make a deep playoff run and potentially secure their first NBA Championship in franchise history. With a talented roster and a burning desire to compete, the Pacers will be one of the most exciting teams to watch in the coming weeks.

Bucks Face Tough Offseason Questions

For Milwaukee, the early playoff exit brings an offseason full of questions. Damian Lillard missed the entire series due to injury, and the Bucks were without Khris Middleton for key stretches as well. But the supporting cast struggled, and the team’s late-game decision-making was suspect in multiple contests.

Head coach Doc Rivers, hired midseason, will face scrutiny over his rotations and adjustments—or lack thereof. Milwaukee entered the season with championship aspirations but fell flat in the most important moments.

“We didn’t meet expectations,” Rivers said after the loss. “We’ve got to look hard at how to fix that.”

As the Pacers celebrate their first-round victory, the road to the NBA Finals gets that much closer. Their next challenge will be to face the Cleveland Cavaliers in what is sure to be a highly competitive second-round series. If the Pacers can continue to play with the same intensity, they could be primed for a deep playoff run.

Stay tuned for more updates as the NBA Playoffs continue!