Siakam, Haliburton Fuel Pacers to 123-115 Lead Over Bucks/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton posted double-doubles to lead Indiana. The Pacers beat Milwaukee 123-115 to take a 2-0 first-round playoff lead. Indiana never trailed and now heads to Milwaukee for Game 3 with momentum.
Siakam, Haliburton Shine Again: Pacers vs. Bucks Quick Looks
- Siakam’s All-Around Impact: 24 points, 11 rebounds, and a dagger three to seal Game 2.
- Haliburton in Control: 21 points and 12 assists as Indiana maintained offensive rhythm.
- Pacers Stay Unbeaten at Home: Led wire-to-wire in both games to start the series.
- Giannis Puts Up Big Numbers: Antetokounmpo finished with 34 points, 18 rebounds, 7 assists.
- Dame Returns: Lillard scored 14 in his playoff debut after missing a month due to DVT.
- Tense Game 2 Atmosphere: Technicals, hard fouls, and playoff grit added to the drama.
- Game 3 Ahead: Teams meet again Friday in Milwaukee — the Bucks now in must-win territory.
Deep Look: Pacers Take Command with Game 2 Win Over Bucks
INDIANAPOLIS — April 22, 2025 — For the second straight game, Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton proved to be a devastating duo for the Indiana Pacers. With playoff poise and high-octane execution, they pushed Indiana to a 123-115 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, taking a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series.
Siakam racked up 24 points, 11 rebounds, and hit a critical three-pointer to ignite the game-clinching run in the final minutes. Haliburton contributed 21 points and 12 assists, quarterbacking the Pacers offense with efficiency and flair.
“He’s steady. He’s underrated. He’s one of the best players in the league,” Haliburton said of Siakam postgame.
Pacers Start Strong, Stay in Control
Indiana stormed out to a 31-16 lead midway through the first quarter and never looked back. Despite a late Milwaukee push, the Pacers answered every run with timely buckets and defensive stands.
It marked the fifth win in six playoff matchups against Milwaukee and a continuation of Indiana’s dominance dating back to last postseason. The Pacers have not trailed since early in Game 1.
“They keep setting the tone early,” said Giannis Antetokounmpo, who led the Bucks with 34 points, 18 rebounds, and 7 assists. “We need more urgency. We can’t always be playing from behind.”
Lillard Returns, But Bucks Still Off Balance
Damian Lillard returned to the lineup for the first time since March 18, battling through deep vein thrombosis in his right calf. He tallied 14 points on 4-of-13 shooting in 37 minutes — his first playoff game alongside Giannis.
“Good to be back,” Lillard said. “But we’ve got to find our flow together, and quickly.”
Bobby Portis Jr. added 28 points and hit six threes, providing a needed spark, but the Bucks never truly found their rhythm against Indiana’s aggressive defense.
Chippy, Classic Playoff Energy
The game delivered postseason intensity in full — a first-half skirmish near the Pacers bench resulted in double technicals, with more whistles and fiery words exchanged late in the fourth.
A long list of stars were courtside: Caitlin Clark and Indiana Fever teammates, Reggie Wayne, Marcus Ericsson, and Lance Stephenson, all on hand to witness the drama.
The crowd roared as Indiana responded to a 13-0 Milwaukee run with a final surge. Siakam’s clutch three-pointer with under 2:30 left spurred an 8-2 run that sealed the deal.
What’s Next
Game 3 tips off Friday night in Milwaukee, where the Bucks face a critical must-win situation. If the Pacers keep up their blend of composure, defense, and timely scoring, they could find themselves on the brink of their first playoff series win since 2014.
“We’re not satisfied,” Haliburton said. “We came here to win a series — not just two games.”
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