Pascal Siakam finished with 37 points, and the Indiana Pacers overcame another phenomenal 1st-half scoring show from Damian Lillard to defeat the Milwaukee Bucks 125-108 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, WI, and even their Eastern Conference 1st-round postseason matchup at a match apiece.
Pacers ended a 10-match postseason losing streak that started with a Game 7 defeat to the Cavaliers in a 1st-round matchup in 2018. Indiana was swept by Celtics in 2019 and by Heat the next year.
series evened.#PacersWin pic.twitter.com/G9Ioh5yfy4
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 24, 2024
Two days after notching all 35 of his points in the 1st half of Milwaukee’s 109-94 Game 1 triumph, Damian had 26 after the 1st two quarters and finished with 34.
Pascal Siakam COOKED in Game 2.
he's the second player in franchise history to score 35+ points in consecutive playoff games (Reggie Miller). pic.twitter.com/gF5JysTaKI
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) April 24, 2024
But this time, his team lost. The guard didn’t get enough help with Milwaukee once again without Giannis Antetokounmpo because of a strained left calf.
The Greek superstar hasn’t competed since he was hurt in an April 9 win against Celtics.
The matchup heads to Indianapolis for the next 2 matches from the series, with Game 3 on Friday.
Myles Turner notched 22 points, and Andrew Nembhard added 20 for Indiana. Tyrese Haliburton finished with a double-double – 12 points and 12 assists.