It was the Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker show at the Bradley Center on Thursday night, as their 27 points apiece helped the Bucks pull away late against the Indiana Pacers, 125-107.
It marks just the second time the duo has scored 25+ points on the same night (3/6/16 vs. OKC) and just the fifth time the two have scored 20+ points in the same game.
For the Pacers, Paul George led the team with 23 points. C.J. Miles contributed 19 off the bench while Jeff Teague had 16 and Myles Turner posted 15 points.
Milwaukee had all of the possible momentum to begin the fourth quarter, as a 3-pointer from Parker at the 10:37 mark extended the Bucks lead to 16. However, the Pacers would not be counted out just yet.
A 7-0 run that was ignited by a Paul George 3-pointer slashed the Milwaukee lead to just 11. The Bucks then responded with baskets from Greg Monroe, Antetokounmpo and Matthew Dellavedova, pushing their lead back to double-digits at 103-90. However, yet again, the Pacers would not break.
A pair of free throws from Monta Ellis, the former Buck, trimmed the lead to single digits and put the game in reach for Indiana. Paul George then followed that up with a made layup at the 4:11 mark, creating an only seven-point deficit.
Unlike past games in which the Bucks would fold under similar opposing pressure, Milwaukee found a groove and did not look back. A clutch 3-pointer from Tony Snell in the corner grasped the Bucks yet another double-digit lead and one they would not relinquish. It was Snell’s second consecutive double-figure effort, as he followed up his double-double in New Orleans with 14 points tonight.
From that point on, the Bucks went into cruise control. Antetokounmpo would put in a gorgeous and-1 layup off a Paul George foul and convert on the free throw, building the lead to 14 points.
George discussed the challenge of guarding Antetokounmpo throughout the night.
“What makes him so tough is that they’re constantly moving,” said George. “He’s not a great shooter, but they do a great job of hiding that and making him a slasher.”
The Bucks would get a stop on defense and convert yet again on their following possession with a two-point shot from Tony Snell.
One of the reoccurring themes of the night was 3-point attempts from Jabari Parker. He converted on four of them. Parker says taking 3-pointers is an area of his game he must improve on.
“If I want to grow, I have to challenge myself,” said Parker. “They gave me the green light, I just have to go with it.”
Even despite their big lead, the most electric moment of the game did not come until the final minute of the game, when rookie and 10th overall pick Thon Maker entered the game for Milwaukee and made his NBA debut. Maker would not wait long for his first career shot, as he converted on a 3-pointer off a pick and roll. The made shot put the crowd into a frenzy that would even get louder when Maker sank yet another 3-pointer just 25 seconds later, pushing the Bucks lead to 125-107 and the final basket of the game.
Milwaukee’s 125 total points tonight marks the fourth-highest scoring total in regulation in the NBA this season, behind only San Antonio (129), Cleveland (128) and Golden State (127).
The Bucks return to the BMO Harris Bradley Center this Saturday to take on the visiting Sacramento Kings. They will then travel to Dallas to take on the Mavericks on Sunday. They will return home next week against the Pelicans on Thursday, Nov. 10 and the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday, Nov. 12.