Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis each notched 29 points, and the short-handed Milwaukee Bucks kept their campaign alive by shocking the Indiana Pacers 115-92 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, WI, in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference 1st-round postseason matchup.
Bobby had the highest point total of his postseason career and finished also with 10 boards to reestablish himself 2 days after he got ejected from a Game 4 defeat. Khris had his 3rd consecutive match with at least 25 points and also finished with 12 boards and 5 assists.
HEADED BACK TO INDY.#FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/ukp1ZfudWh
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) May 1, 2024
Indiana still leads the best-of-7 matchup 3-2 before Game 6 on Thursday at their venue. The Pacers are trying to advance beyond the 1st round for the 1st time since 2014.
Bucks, which have never triumphed in a matchup in which it is 3-1, made sure Indiana will not close it at their city tonight. Milwaukee held the Pacers to its lowest point total of the campaign and triumphed without superstars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard as the fans chanted “Milwaukee in 7”.
A big playoff double-double from Big Bob.
29 PTS | 10 REB | 58% FG pic.twitter.com/X9MeSC1Pdj
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) May 1, 2024
Giannis hasn’t played this entire matchup as Damian sat out a 2nd consecutive match after sustaining an Achilles tendon problem in Milwaukee’s 121-118 Game 3 defeat on Friday.