Battling Injury and Facing Unfamiliar Territory: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Indiana Pacers in First Round Playoff Matchup

The Milwaukee Bucks are set to take on the Indiana Pacers in their first-round playoff series at Fiserv Forum on Sunday. Despite losing four out of five regular season meetings to Indiana, the Bucks are eager to make a strong playoff run. The Pacers, on the other hand, are making their first playoff appearance in four seasons and have not won a playoff series in 10 years.

The series is overshadowed by the uncertainty surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo’s injured calf, as his performance could be crucial to the outcome of the games. One of the key aspects to watch in the series is the high-octane offenses of both teams. The Pacers had the top offense in the NBA, averaging over 123 points per game, while the Bucks were fourth at 119. However, the Pacers struggled defensively, allowing 120 points per game, ranking 28th in the league.

In terms of individual performances during their regular season matchups, Tyrese Haliburton of the Pacers averaged 27 points per game against Milwaukee, while Damian Lillard had a tough time against Indiana, shooting just 32% from the field and 26% from three-point range in his four games against them.

Despite having an advantageous home court for games one and two and potentially games five and seven at Fiserv Forum, where they posted a record of 31-11 during regular season home games but struggled with a road record of 18-22