As the Milwaukee Bucks found out, whatever happens in the first quarter of an NBA game determines the rest of the game. At first, there was hope for the Bucks at the beginning of their playoff series, but this didn’t last long after Game 3’s first-quarter experience for one of their key players.
Yet, in the first quarter of Game 5, a dramatic clash between two players boosted the Bucks’ confidence, and the rest is history. What caused this dramatic clash?
Milwaukee Bucks vs. Indiana Pacers Playoff Recap
It’s been a tough first-round playoff series for the Bucks, as one of their key players, Giannis Antetokounmpo, has been on the bench with an injury since the beginning of the series.
Yet despite this setback, the Bucks won the first game of their playoff series, with Damian Lillard taking control of the game. This crucial moment boosted the morale and confidence of the players and fans.
Though the Bucks started well, they couldn’t keep up their winning streak as the Pacers came on strong, defeating the Bucks in the series’ second, third, and fourth games. Their average victory margin in these three contests was 11 points.
We thought the Bucks could seize a victory in the third game after forcing overtime play. But the Pacers dominated, with Tyrese Haliburton bagging a triple-double at the end of Game 3.
Now, the Pacers were leading in their playoff series 3-1. They needed to win Game 5 to seal their victory and wipe out the Bucks.
And this time, Lillard joined Giannis on the bench. Thus, the odds were high for the Pacers to claim their victory.
The Turning Point for Milwaukee Bucks
You know, no win is more enjoyable than one with a bit of provocative drama.
Remember Joel Embiid and Jalen Brunson’s clash in the Game 4 series that got Brunson fired up? Something similar happened in the Bucks vs. Pacers game.
While the Pacers were leading in the first quarter, Obi Toppin clashed with Patrick Beverly
What Happened?
The referee called out Toppin for traveling, so the whistle blew, stopping play. Then Pat Bev rushed to get the ball from Toppin to continue the game quickly, but Toppin refused and struggled physically with Pat Bev, which caused a technical foul. Before it escalated, other players and the referees separated them.
After this clash, the Bucks dominated the Pacers till the end of the game, finishing with 115 points, while the Pacers had 92 points.
Finally, this is a chance for the Bucks to advance to the next round of the playoffs, but the Pacers still lead the series 3-2. The Bucks would like to win their next game so they could force a Game 7, and Giannis and Damian might be healthy enough to play.
Why are the Milwaukee Bucks Missing 2 Key All-Stars?
On April 9, during the third quarter of a game against the Boston Celtics, Antetokounmpo collapsed, grabbing his lower leg. He has been sidelined since then with a calf strain.
Though Lillard tried to fill the void for the missing Giannis in the first three playoff games, the Pacers’ relentless pressure seemed to wear him down. In the first quarter of the third game, Lillard bumped into Pascal Siakam and re-aggravated his Achilles injury.
Stay tuned for the Bucks vs. Pacers next game. Do you think it’d be another dramatic turning point?
About the Author
Wisdom is an email and brand copywriter with 2 years of content writing experience. He started Cloud Kitchen Concept to help startups and business owners elevate their brands from good to great. You can connect with him on LinkedIn and Instagram to enjoy cooked meals for your business’s growth.
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