Pacers go cold late in loss to Milwaukee
By TYLER SMITH (@TylerSmith_ISL)
ISL Editor
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Pacers had a golden chance to win their seventh straight game heading into the All-Star break. They built a 10-point lead over Milwaukee in the 4th quarter. But then, everything fell apart, and the NBA’s best team used a late run to defeat Indiana 106-97.
Giannis Antetokounmpo only scored 12 points the last time Milwaukee was in town. He surpassed that total in the first 10 minutes of this game. Maybe he read about Thad Young shutting him down previously. Or maybe, he’s just insanely good at basketball.
Whatever the case, the “Greek Freak” finished with 33 points, 19 rebounds, and 11 assists- his fifth triple-double of the year.
“He’s a monster,” said Pacers Coach Nate McMillan.
I’m not sure any additional context is needed in this case.
The Pacers trailed by 12 points in the 2nd quarter. They took their first lead at 59-58 in the 3rd. But they shot just 4-of-17 in the final 9:36 of the game. Milwaukee’s adjustment on defense made all the difference.
“We didn’t take advantage of the switches,” said McMillan. “That was the difference in the ballgame.”
So the Pacers will head into the All-Star break with a 38-20 record. They are 3rd in the East. As Victor Oladipo said on Monday, they are at their best when nobody believes in them. Even so, things get a lot tougher for the blue and gold in March.
“We’ve got to ride the wave,” said Thad Young. “Come back rejuvenated. We know who we are. We know what kind of team we have. We feel we’re a top team in the East.”
“We’re going to see more playoff type teams down the stretch,” McMillan said. “We’re going to play these types of games the rest of the way. I told the guys- Spend time with your family. Get focused. Because we’re going to need the intensity when we come back.”
Wednesday night’s game against Milwaukee may be a sign of things to come. This could very well be a good team with lots of heart, but not enough talent to get over the hump against the top teams in the East. Or, it could just be one loss after a six-game winning streak. For now, the Pacers will enjoy the break as they prepare for the stretch run.
