The Milwaukee Bucks wrapped up their preseason with a 128-127 overtime win over the Indiana Pacers, and the scoreline came with the kind of edge that still seems to hang around whenever these teams meet.
It didn’t take long for that to show up. A few minutes into the game, Ryan Rollins nudged Tyrese Haliburton in the back while Haliburton had his back to the basket, sending him to the floor and sparking a back-and-forth between the two. The exchange fit the tone of a matchup that, even without Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and Bobby Portis, still carried plenty of tension.
Milwaukee also left Indiana with a few encouraging signs beyond the win itself. One of the biggest came from Tyler Herro, who looked far more comfortable than he had in the first three preseason games. After entering Friday averaging 14 points per game on 45.2% shooting from the field and 50% from 3, Herro delivered his best night yet: 25 points, three rebounds and three assists while shooting 10-for-16 from the floor and 5-for-7 from deep.
He scored 25 points in 23 minutes, and the performance matched the kind of aggression Milwaukee has been waiting for. Herro got to his spots, attacked with confidence and showed the scoring range that makes him such an important piece of the offense as the regular season approaches.
The Bucks’ bench gave them another lift. After struggling in earlier preseason games, the second unit came through against Indiana, with nine reserves combining for 68 points. Brayden Burries, Kel’el Ware and Kevin Porter Jr. all reached double figures, giving Milwaukee the kind of depth production it had been missing.
Some of that came in a game that needed overtime, but the broader picture still mattered. The starters had already been taken out during the third quarter, and the bench was still able to help fuel a comeback win. Porter and Burries didn’t play the final five minutes of regulation or the overtime period, yet their early work still helped set the tone for the finish.
Burries, in particular, kept building on a strong stretch. He followed up 16 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder and 19 against the Chicago Bulls with another productive outing, finishing with 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals on 6-for-11 shooting. He led the bench in scoring and brought energy the moment he checked in.
Even without a made 3-pointer, Burries found ways to hurt Indiana. He got downhill, finished through contact and added a coast-to-coast bucket after a steal. He also showed more than just scoring instincts, creating offense by making the first pass in possessions that later turned into assists for teammates.
That blend of confidence, creation and two-way impact is starting to stand out. Burries looks ahead of schedule, and after another strong showing, it’s getting tougher to imagine him staying off the floor for long.
In Other News...
Former Pacers Pick Is Suddenly Making A Case In Milwaukee
As the Pacers wrap up their preseason against Milwaukee, it is hard to miss how many familiar faces are waiting on the other side. The Bucks have four former Indiana players on the roster, and among them, Kam Jones has become one of the more intriguing names to watch after earning steady attention for the work he has put in since summer.
Assistant coach Jenkins has been especially vocal about Jones progress, pointing to growth on offense and noticeable improvement on defense during camp and the preseason. Jones backed that up with 23 points in a recent game against the Bulls, and with his second NBA season underway, he is trying to turn that momentum into a real role in Milwaukee rather than just another strong stretch in October. [Read more 🡒]
Bucks Just Made A Cut That Could Complicate Their Final Roster
The Bucks trimmed a bit of their camp roster by requesting waivers on forwards Pete Nance and Johni Broome, along with center Jake Stephens, part of the usual late-summer shuffle as teams sort out the bottom of the bench. Broome and Stephens were on Exhibit 10 contracts and were always expected to be moved on from, but Nances situation stands out because he was on a two-year non-guaranteed deal and had a little more significance in Milwaukees evaluation process.
Marcus Garrett was also waived after signing an Exhibit 10 contract, and now the more interesting question is what comes next for Nance if he clears waivers. The Bucks could bring him back on a two-way deal, but there is some concern another team might decide to claim him first, leaving Milwaukee with 16 players on fully guaranteed contracts and more roster work still to do before the regular season deadline. [Read more 🡒]
Bucks Preseason Just Put Two Backcourt Jobs Under Real Pressure
The Bucks used their five-game preseason to sort through a lot more than just game rust, cycling through different lineup combinations while finishing 2-3 and getting a clearer look at how the roster fits together. Tyler Herro provided the most consistent scoring punch, and Myles Turner showed why his defensive presence matters even when the offense is still catching up. Kyle Kuzma still looks set to open at power forward, but the more interesting competition has started to settle into the backcourt.
Rookie Brayden Burries was one of the biggest bright spots, giving Milwaukee a reason to think he might force his way into the rotation sooner than expected. Kevin Porter Jr., meanwhile, left the preseason with far more questions than answers after a rough showing, and his place on the roster is suddenly worth watching. For a team trying to piece together the right guard mix around its core, the final preseason tuneup may have clarified just how little room there is for anyone to coast. [Read more 🡒]