Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 34 points not enough as Milwaukee Bucks fall to Indiana Pacers in Game 2 showdown

Giannis Antetokounmpo was all geared up to propel the Milwaukee Bucks to victory with the aim to make the stat line 1-1, but his 34-point showdown was not enough to overcome the Indiana Pacers’ defense. The Pacers secured a stunning 123-115 win over the Bucks to lead 2-0 in the playoffs. Amid the high-octane and action-packed game, here are the players' stats and everything you need to know about game 2 at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way with a dominant performance, scoring 34 points on an impressive 70% shooting from the field. He also pulled down 18 rebounds and dished out 7 assists. However, he struggled at the free-throw line, making just 6 of his 10 attempts.

After the game, Antetokounmpo said, "My mindset right now is Game 3. I know the f****** deal man. I just know the deal. I know what I gotta do."

Bobby Portis stepped up in a big way, delivering 28 points on 11-for-19 shooting, including 6 three-pointers. He also grabbed 12 rebounds, contributing significantly on both ends of the floor.
Meanwhile, Damian Lillard had a tough shooting night, going just 4-of-13 from the field and 2-of-8 from three-point range. He still managed to contribute with 7 assists and 3 rebounds, but his shooting struggles limited his scoring to 14 points. Brook Lopez added 8 points in limited minutes, blocking 4 shots on defense, but didn’t have much impact on the boards.
Kyle Kuzma put in a solid shift with 12 points on 50% shooting in 31 minutes. While he didn’t hit from deep, he was perfect from the free-throw line and added 3 rebounds and an assist. Taurean Prince and Kevin Porter Jr. chipped in modestly, combining for 15 points.
On the Pacers’ side, the team had a strong offensive showing, finishing with 123 points on nearly 49% shooting from the field. Pascal Siakam led the team with 24 points, shooting 50% while also pulling down 11 rebounds and going a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line.

Tyrese Haliburton played the role of floor general, racking up 12 assists to go with 21 points. Andrew Nembhard also had an efficient game, scoring 17 points on 60% shooting while knocking down three of his five attempts from long range.
Aaron Nesmith was another standout, chipping in 16 points while shooting 80% from three. He was sharp and efficient, and his +10 plus-minus tied for the best on the team. Myles Turner added 15 points and two blocks, doing his usual damage on both ends of the floor, and Obi Toppin was efficient in his limited minutes, hitting 3 of 4 shots.
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The bench gave solid contributions, too. Bennedict Mathurin scored 14 points in just over 17 minutes, getting to the line five times and hitting all his free throws. T.J. McConnell brought his usual hustle, adding 6 points, 4 assists, and 2 steals. The Pacers were perfect from the line as a team, going 19-for-19, and that clean shooting from the stripe helped seal a solid all-around performance.