Bucks Fall to Pacers 123-115 in Game 2, Trail 0-2 in Series

The Milwaukee Bucks are now facing a serious uphill climb in the NBA playoffs. After a 123-115 loss to the Indiana Pacers on April 22, the Bucks now trail 0-2 in the first-round series. The defeat came despite the highly anticipated return of Damian Lillard, who had been out since March due to a blood clot.

Game 3 tips off in Milwaukee on Friday, April 25 at 7 p.m. CT.

Bucks Defense Struggles Again

The Bucks once again came out flat, especially on defense. Indiana scored 40 points in the first quarter, shooting nearly 60% from the field and 60% from beyond the arc. The Pacers led by as many as 15 points before the Bucks mounted a late-game rally.

But just like in Game 1, that rally came up short.

Lillard Returns, But Can’t Turn the Tide

Returning from a deep vein thrombosis diagnosis, Damian Lillard scored 14 points in 37 minutes, shooting 4-of-13 from the field. While he added seven assists, his rhythm was off — and the Pacers capitalized.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led all scorers with 34 points, 18 rebounds, and 7 assists, while Bobby Portis Jr. was a spark off the bench with 28 points, including six 3-pointers.

Haliburton and Pacers Dominate Late

Tyrese Haliburton shook off a quiet Game 1 with 21 points and 12 assists, repeatedly breaking down Milwaukee’s defense. Pascal Siakam added 24 points and 11 rebounds, and Andrew Nembhard’s clutch three sealed the win with 71 seconds left.

Six Pacers finished in double digits — a clear sign of their offensive balance.

Key Moments That Shifted the Game

• Bucks cut the deficit to 115-113 with under 3 minutes left.
• Siakam hit a huge 3-pointer, then Nembhard followed with a dagger from deep.
• Giannis missed a tightly contested layup as momentum shifted back to Indiana.

Lineup and Rotation Issues Remain

Despite a renewed effort to involve Brook Lopez and Kyle Kuzma, both struggled to make a major impact. Kuzma scored 12 points, but managed just 3 rebounds. Lopez was effective early but played just 16 minutes.

Coach Doc Rivers opted for a smaller lineup down the stretch, playing Portis at center alongside Giannis.

Milwaukee’s History with 0-2 Series Deficits

This isn’t unfamiliar territory for Milwaukee. The Bucks famously overcame 0-2 deficits twice in 2021 — en route to their NBA title. But they’ve also blown a 2-0 lead before, falling to the Raptors in the 2019 East Finals.

Only 34 teams in NBA history have come back from 0-2 to win a series — a stat that now hangs over Milwaukee’s chances.

Game 3 Info:

• When: Friday, April 25, 7 p.m. CT
• Where: Milwaukee, WI
• TV: NBA TV (national), FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin (local)
• Odds: Pacers favored by 4.5 points (Over/Under: 228.5)

More… 

• https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6299153/2025/04/22/damian-lillard-return-bucks-pacers-game-2/
• https://www.nba.com/news/nightly-pulse-nba-news-highlights-from-april-22
• https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2025/04/22/milwaukee-bucks-giannis-antetokounmpo-damian-lillard-first-playoff-game-vs-pacers-live-updates/83208352007/