After a loss to the Bucks behind Giannis Antetokounmpo’s and Garry Trent Jr.’s 37-point performances, the Pacers started hot and did not let up. Taking a 3-1 series lead, Indiana looks to close out the series back on home court on Wednesday.
Once the Pacers are hot, little can be done to slow them down. A deep bench, all of which can shoot the 3, fuels offensive onslaughts that not many teams can match. The higher pace of play, which Indy ranks third in this postseason, leaves games quickly out of reach. Like with the Bucks, they cannot keep up if they do not have a breakout performance from someone not named Antetokounmpo or Lillard.
Only outdone by the Thunder and Grizzlies in pace, the Pacers should feel confident in a seven-game series with anyone. The Cavs will be a tougher matchup, but when eight Indy players are in double figures, like tonight, little can be done.
The Pacers started strong, scoring 30 points in the first quarter and exceeding that mark in the second and third as well. Their run-and-gun offense can be credited for this. Indy has an affinity for sharing the ball, led by the “overrated” Haliburton, who posted 17 points and 15 assists.
After the first quarter, the score tallied 30-24 in favor of the Pacers. It was clear, coming off a loss, Indy did not want momentum to shift out of their favor. Regrettably, Damian Lillard did suffer a non-contact injury in the first quarter, from which he did not return. The Bucks’ situation was deteriorating by the minute.
At halftime, the Pacers held an 11-point lead and showed no signs of stopping. Indy was in a similar position in Game 3 and fell flat in the third quarter, but they made sure not to repeat a poor performance. By the start of the fourth quarter, the Blue and Gold had extended their lead to 16.
More of the same followed in the last quarter. The game was officially out of reach for Milwaukee. The Pacers ran away with a 26-point victory, led by Myles Turner’s 23 points. Seven other players contributed with double figures, including T.J. McConnell, Jarace Walker, and Aaron Nesmith.
Indy has an affinity for sharing the ball. Currently holding the highest team assist average in the postseason at 30, everyone gets in on the action. For continued success, the Pacers must continue along this path. That is easy when any one of the starters or bench players is capable of scoring 20+ points a night while being fed by the most efficient PG in the league.
Like it or not, the Pacers live or die by the three. When shooting at a high clip, all the momentum is in Indy’s favor. Poor shooting performances begin to reveal cracks, specifically in defense in rebounding. To combat less-than-ideal offensive percentages, the Pacers need to lock down on defense to have a chance at staying in lower-scoring games.
The playoffs are all about winning tough games, especially those not in front of a home crowd. The Pacers have shown they love playing in Indy, holding a 29-11 record in the regular season at home. Winning Game 4 on the road to go up 3-1 instead of falling to 2-2 seals the Bucks’ fate. A marker of Indy’s postseason success will be how they perform in these “closeout” games on enemy territory.
The Pacers continue to look strong, sharing the ball and knocking down shots. Although the Bucks have struggled with injuries, taking key players out of their lineups, Indy has refused to let up. Now up 3-1, Indy looks to close out the series back in the 317 and prepare for the 1-seeded Cavs.
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