Indiana has traditionally been the hotbed of basketball in the US, and the “Hoosier Nation” has always been well represented in the NBA by their beloved Indiana Pacers, and this season is no different. The Pacers finished with a 50-32 record, securing the 4th spot in the East, and are already beating the Bucks in their game. A major reason for their boost is, they were going 29-11 at home. Their performance to close out the regular season was even more amazing. But to win big at the biggest stage requires a lineup that is ready to fire. They did fire in Game 1, but will the hungry Bucks rise up for revenge, both for the last matchup and last year?
Context? The result of Game 1 was a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference 1st round matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. Game 1 was expected to be a hard-fought affair between these two division rivals, but it turned out to be anything but that. The Pacers blew out the Bucks with a convincing 117-98 victory behind Pascal Siakam’s 25 points. Tyrese Haliburton was a virtual no-show, going 0-7 from 3-point land, finishing with just 10 points. However, he is expected to bounce back in Game 2 with a stronger showing. Indiana would again be looking to Siakam to carry them offensively on Tuesday night. But the question is, will they play?
The best thing happening for the Pacers right now is all guns blazing and none on the injury list, except for one. The group looks clean; the coach is confident, and the medical team is doing everything right to keep them together. But one thing that could worry the Indiana Pacers is the turn of fortune of the Bucks. If reports are to be believed, Shams Charania, the ESPN beat has hinted that Damian Lillard, who was missing from the Bucks lineup, is all set to hit the court again.
Mar 11, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA;Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) dribbles the ball in the first half against the Milwaukee Bucks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
Honestly, Lillard’s presence is a threat, only if you allow it to be one. Given their recent performance, coach Rick Carlisle will be happy with how his team has fared. To count, Myles Turner was on top of his game on Saturday, finishing with 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 blocks. The Pacers’ Center filled in for Haliburton offensively, going 7 for 12 from the field. This included four 3-pointers. The only lead the Bucks had in the game was when they were ahead 6 to 3 in the opening minutes of the first quarter. Indiana soon took control and started pulling away in the next quarter, and the rest was on the scoreboard to see.
Halftime couldn’t have come any sooner for the Bucks. Having said that, the break did not make much of a difference. The Pacers continued with their onslaught through the third quarter, stretching the lead to 27 points. From then on, it was all one-way traffic. Even a mini run from the Bucks in the final quarter was quickly snuffed out. This meant the Pacers walked away from Gainbridge Fieldhouse with an impressive W. That’s done for now. Today is a new day, and the Milwaukee Bucks aren’t here to sit idle either. So, who are the Pacers taking to the court this evening?
Probable Starting Lineup for the Pacers come Tuesday night
The only Pacer on the injury list is Isaiah Jackson, who is out for the season, recovering from an Achilles tear. With no other injury concerns, Indiana would be looking to put out the same starting five as in Game 1.
Point Guard
Tyrese Haliburton
Shooting Guard
Andrew Nembhard
Small Forward
Aaron Nesmith
Power Forward
Pascal Siakam
Center
Myles Turner
Heading into Game 2, the Indiana Pacers will be full of confidence without injury. For the Bucks to have any chance in the series, they would have to come up big on Tuesday night. The Indiana crowd would be backing their team to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series going into Game 3 at Fiserv Forum. Where do you put your bet on?
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