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04/28 20:53 CDT Pacers hit franchise playoff best 22 3-pointers to beat Bucks
126-113, take 3-1 lead in series
Pacers hit franchise playoff best 22 3-pointers to beat Bucks 126-113, take 3-1
lead in series
By MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) --- Myles Turner scored 29 points, Tyrese Haliburton added 24
and the Indiana Pacers made a franchise playoff record 22 3-pointers as they
pulled away late for a 126-113 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday night.
The win gave the Pacers a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Indiana has won
three straight since losing the opener and can reach the Eastern Conference
semifinals for the first time since 2014 --- with a win Tuesday at Milwaukee.
Indiana is 7-2 this season against the Bucks, who are trying to avoid a second
straight first-round exit.
Haliburton posted a career playoff scoring high for the second straight game
while Turner matched a playoff career high that he set in Friday night's
overtime win. Turner also had nine rebounds and four assists against a Bucks
squad that was missing two injured All-Stars, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian
Lillard.
It's unclear if either will be available in Game 5. Antetokounmpo hasn't played
since straining his left calf April 9. Lillard injured his Achilles tendon
Friday night and had a protective walking boot covering his right foot this
weekend.
Brook Lopez led the Bucks with 27 points and nine rebounds, and Khris Middleton
added 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.
But the Bucks depth took even bigger hits with Middleton playing much of the
second half with four fouls and forward Bobby Portis Jr. being ejected with
5:01 left in the first quarter after he and Andrew Nembhard were involved in a
shoving match. Portis drew two technical fouls on the play, part of a
six-technical first half.
Still, the Pacers struggled to take advantage, finishing the back-and-forth
first half with just a 67-64 lead.
But after Lopez's opened the third quarter with a basket, Haliburton responded
with three straight 3s to give the Pacers a 76-66 lead. The Bucks never
completely recovered as Indiana extended the margin to 95-78 on Obi Toppin's
layup with 2:24 left in the quarter.
Milwaukee opened the fourth with seven straight points to close to 98-92.
Indiana answered with a 10-2 run to rebuild a 108-94 cushion with 7:25 to play
and the Bucks couldn't get within single digits the rest of the game.
Nembhard finished with 15 points and nine assists for the Pacers and Pascal
Siakam added 13 points, nine rebounds and seven assists.
Malik Beasley added 20 points for Milwaukee.
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
