Pacers’ Slide Continues in Loss to Bucks as Frustration Boils Over
The Indiana Pacers are in the thick of a brutal stretch, and Tuesday night’s 111-94 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks was another tough chapter in what’s become a season defined by growing pains, inconsistent lineups, and missed opportunities. That’s six straight losses now, and their third in four nights. For a team still trying to find its identity, the latest defeat was a stark reminder of how far they have to go.
Let’s start with the basics: Indiana’s offense continues to sputter. The Pacers shot just 41% from the field and couldn’t find the range from deep, connecting on less than 30% of their three-point attempts.
No player scored more than 16 points, with T.J. McConnell leading the bench effort and Pascal Siakam pacing the starters with 15 points and nine rebounds.
That’s not going to cut it against a Bucks squad that, despite coming in having lost five of their last six, still boasts enough firepower to punish a team that can’t capitalize.
And capitalize the Pacers did not. Despite a fourth-quarter push that saw them cut a 25-point deficit down to nine with under five minutes to go-thanks to a 9-0 run sparked by a bit of urgency and shot-making-they just couldn’t sustain it.
Four straight missed threes, all on quality looks, killed the momentum. That kind of cold stretch has become a recurring theme for this team.
Free throws were another glaring issue. Indiana went just 20-for-33 at the line, leaving 13 points on the board in a game where every possession mattered.
Meanwhile, both teams grabbed seven offensive rebounds, but the Bucks turned theirs into 18 second-chance points. The Pacers?
Just five. That’s the kind of disparity that makes the difference between a comeback and a collapse.
The numbers paint a bleak picture. Indiana now ranks last in the league in both field goal and three-point percentage, and sits 23rd in free throw shooting. Compare that to last season-when they were top 10 in all three-and it’s clear this is a very different team, both in personnel and execution.
Head coach Rick Carlisle didn’t sugarcoat it after the game. “Gotta be resourceful and find ways,” he said, a simple but telling quote that reflects the challenge of coaching a team that’s used 23 different players and cycled through nearly 20 starting lineups already. That kind of instability makes it hard to build chemistry, especially in the heart of the season.
Pascal Siakam, the veteran trying to anchor this young, shifting roster, was visibly frustrated. “We just didn't play with any pace, any determination,” he said postgame.
“It looked like we were just jacking shots sometimes. We played with no force.
We just didn't have it.”
That’s not just a critique of the X’s and O’s-it’s a callout of the team’s energy and focus. Siakam’s comments were raw and honest, highlighting the emotional toll of constant losing.
“It doesn't look like we have any pace or any pep to anything that we're doing,” he added. “There's no energy.
It's not fun to be around.”
And he’s not wrong. The Pacers are missing key pieces-Tyrese Haliburton, Obi Toppin, Aaron Nesmith, and Ben Sheppard were all unavailable.
Those are players who know how to execute, who understand their roles, and who’ve been part of winning stretches. Without them, Indiana has had to lean on young players and late additions who are still learning the ropes.
One of those players is Ethan Thompson, who had zero NBA experience before joining the Pacers in late November. He’s now started five of his 10 career games. Thompson plays hard-there’s no questioning his effort-but the learning curve at this level is steep, and he’s not alone in trying to figure it out on the fly.
The constant lineup changes and uneven experience levels have made it tough to build trust and rhythm. For a player like Siakam, who’s been the one steady presence in the rotation, that inconsistency is clearly wearing thin.
Still, there are glimmers of potential. Jarace Walker, Johnny Furphy, and Bennedict Mathurin have all shown flashes of what they can become.
Walker brings defensive toughness and versatility. Furphy has a smooth shooting stroke and instincts that could translate long-term.
Mathurin, though inconsistent, has the tools to be a dynamic scorer. But flashes aren’t enough right now-not when the team is searching for someone to step up and help carry the load.
That’s likely who Siakam is speaking to when he talks about needing more urgency, more energy, more joy. He’s looking for someone-anyone-to rise to the moment and help turn things around.
As for the Bucks, they did what they needed to do. Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins combined for 46 points, efficiently navigating Indiana’s defense and silencing the Pacers’ late push. Myles Turner, back at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, had a rough night-booed by the home crowd and finishing just 1-of-8 from three with 10 points and six boards.
Now sitting at 6-24, the Pacers have the second-worst record in the league. And the schedule isn’t doing them any favors.
Next up? The Boston Celtics on Friday night.
After that, it’s road games against Miami and Houston before returning home to face Orlando on New Year’s Eve.
Pacers vs. Celtics Preview
Where: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN
When: Friday, December 26, 2025 - 7:00 p.m.
ET
TV: FanDuel Sports Network
Radio: 93.5/107.5 The Fan
Projected Starters
Pacers: Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, Ethan Thompson, Pascal Siakam, Jay Huff
Celtics: Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Josh Minot, Neemias Queta
This stretch is testing the Pacers’ resolve. The losses are piling up, the frustration is mounting, and the margin for error is razor thin.
But for the young players on this roster, this is also an opportunity-an open door to earn trust, gain experience, and prove they belong. Whether they take that step remains to be seen.