Bucks Cruise Past Struggling Pacers as Indiana’s Offensive Woes Deepen
The Milwaukee Bucks snapped a three-game skid in convincing fashion Tuesday night, rolling past the Indiana Pacers 111-94 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Kevin Porter Jr. led the charge with 24 points, while Ryan Rollins added 23 of his own, as the Bucks looked sharper, more connected, and far more efficient than they had in recent outings.
For Indiana, the loss marks their sixth straight, dropping them to 6-24-now the most losses of any team in the NBA. And while the record speaks volumes, it was the Pacers’ continued offensive struggles that told the real story.
Pacers Can’t Shake the Slump
Coming off a brutal collapse in Boston-where they blew a 20-point lead and managed just 34 points in the second half-the Pacers returned home hoping to reset. Instead, they picked up right where they left off, stuck in the same offensive rut that’s plagued them for weeks.
Indiana opened the night with just 20 points in the first quarter, shooting 7-of-20 from the floor and 1-of-8 from deep. Things didn’t improve much in the second, and by halftime, the Pacers had managed just 44 points on 40% shooting overall, including 4-of-16 from three.
To put it in perspective: spanning the second half in Boston and the first half against Milwaukee, Indiana scored a combined 78 points on 28-of-84 shooting (33.3%) and an ice-cold 5-of-36 from beyond the arc (13.9%).
The third quarter didn’t offer much relief. The Pacers put up 24 points on 8-of-21 shooting, including just one triple on six attempts.
They did show a bit of fight in the fourth, trimming a 20-point deficit down to single digits, but the rally was short-lived. Ultimately, they finished with 94 points on 40.7% shooting and hit just 8-of-31 from deep.
Over the last six quarters, Indiana has gone 9-of-51 from three (17.6%) and averaged just 0.94 points per possession. For a team that once prided itself on ball movement and spacing, the offensive rhythm has all but vanished.
Myles Turner Returns to Boos, Delivers on Defense
Myles Turner knew what to expect when he stepped back onto the court in Indianapolis. After a decade with the Pacers and a summer move to Milwaukee, his first return in November was met with a mix of nostalgia and boos-despite the team’s video tribute. This time around, the reception was no warmer.
But Turner seemed more comfortable in the villain role on Tuesday. While he struggled offensively-scoring 10 points on 4-of-14 shooting, including 1-of-8 from deep-he made his presence felt on the defensive end. He blocked three shots, grabbed six rebounds, and anchored a Bucks defense that held Indiana to under 100 points for the second straight game.
It wasn’t a flashy performance, but it was the kind of gritty, defensive effort Milwaukee will take every night-especially in a game where neither team was lighting it up offensively.
T.J. McConnell Continues to Shine Through the Gloom
If there’s been one consistent bright spot for Indiana this season, it’s been T.J. McConnell. Even as the team’s offense has sputtered, McConnell has remained efficient, steady, and relentlessly competitive.
After sitting out Monday’s game with a sore left knee, he returned Tuesday and immediately gave the Pacers a jolt. McConnell finished with 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting and dished out six assists to just two turnovers. He pushed the pace when he could, found teammates in rhythm, and picked his spots with veteran savvy.
In a game where Indiana’s offensive engine never really turned over, McConnell was the one guy who looked like he had the keys.
What’s Next for the Pacers?
At 6-24, with six straight losses and the league’s worst record, the Pacers are searching for answers. The talent is there in flashes-Pascal Siakam added 15 points, Andrew Nembhard scored 14, and Bennedict Mathurin chipped in 13-but the cohesion and consistency simply aren’t.
They’ve now dropped consecutive games where they’ve failed to crack 100 points, and the three-point shooting slump is becoming more than just a cold stretch-it’s an identity crisis for a team that was once built around perimeter threats and spacing.
The Bucks, meanwhile, showed signs of snapping out of their own funk. With Porter Jr. and Rollins leading the way, and solid contributions from Kyle Kuzma (15 points) and Bobby Portis Jr. (14), Milwaukee looked more like the team they’ve been trying to be.
The Pacers will need more than a hot shooting night to get back on track. They’ll need to rediscover their offensive identity-and fast.