Post-Game Grades: Pacers Can't Score in Half Two, Cough One Up in Milwaukee

After winning their previous three games, the Pacers were trying to extend their largest winning streak of the year while heading to Milwaukee. After a rough, rough start to the season, they were 9-4 over their past 13 games and things were looking up. Paul George was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week.

They tipped off and things were mostly wonderful. Sure, they threw balls all over the court, committing 14 first-half turnovers, but they were shooting well (52.8%) and had a three-point edge at the break.

Then they went early-season Pacers.

Credit the Bucks for playing some top-notch defense, but Indiana just couldn’t score. They made just 13-of-44 shots (29.5%) in the last two quarters, with the only real positive stretch coming during a 12-0 Pacers’ run in the early fourth quarter. Oddly enough, for one of the first times this season, it was the bench that carried the team, as the Hill / Green / Young / Big Brough / Mahinmi lineup snatched the lead back from the Bucks. The bench actually scored 19 of the team’s 45 second-half point. Meanwhile, Roy Hibbert and Lance Stephenson combined for zero points on 0-for-6 shooting in the third and fourth.

Throw in some clutch play down the stretch by Brandon Jennings (he scored 11 of his team’s final 13) and a nice game for former Pacer Mike Dunleavy, Jr. off the bench (17 points) and there’s your ballgame.

Maybe if Indiana hadn’t squandered so many possessions in the first half by punting the ball out of bounds, they would have been up by double digits at halftime and had enough of a cushion to overcome the starting unit’s putrid second-half offense.

But they did not.

C’est la vie.

Here is how each guy played individually tonight. Agree? Disagree? Express your thoughts below in the comments or yell at me (@8pts9secs) or Tim (@TimDonahue8p9s) on Twitter.

His worst game this season? He may think not, what with all the fouls he believes the Bucks committed. But as far as production and impact goes, he had little.Paul George, SF 38 MIN | 6-15 FG | 4-4 FT | 10 REB | 5 AST | 16 PTS | -10

Started the game off really well then went into the tank. Shot 2/7 in the second half, missed all 3 of his three attempts and added 3 turnovers.Roy Hibbert, C 28 MIN | 4-10 FG | 0-0 FT | 10 REB | 2 AST | 8 PTS | -8

Shooting looks bad, but some of those, per usual, were missed tip-in tries so hard to get too upset about those. Then again, a lot of his 7 offensive rebounds can be discounted for the same reason. Played defense.George Hill, PG 36 MIN | 6-16 FG | 5-6 FT | 5 REB | 2 AST | 18 PTS | -4

Wasn’t good.Lance Stephenson, SG 28 MIN | 1-5 FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 1 AST | 3 PTS | -10

Won’t exactly rank up there with Jordan’s double-nickel in terms of return games. Looked out of sorts and was often out of place, with teammates pointing and waving for him to relocate to the correct spot.

The game’s brightest spot was the bench bigs, with Tyler grabbing some big offensive boards in the fourth quarter to prolong the Pacers chances to win as everything else was slipping away. He and Mahinmi scored 12 points on 4 shots and added 7 boards in the period.Sam Young, SF 11 MIN | 0-3 FG | 0-0 FT | 4 REB | 1 AST | 0 PTS | +3

Huuuuuge block. Played some good defense in less sensational ways, too.Gerald Green, SF 19 MIN | 2-5 FG | 2-2 FT | 3 REB | 0 AST | 6 PTS | +7

Really had no idea where Mike Dunleavy was throughout the game and continually lost on defense. Made a few buckets.Ian Mahinmi, C 20 MIN | 5-9 FG | 4-6 FT | 5 REB | 0 AST | 14 PTS | +3

Season high point total for the big man who looked to have some great chemistry with Lil Brough. Can’t ask for much more.Ben Hansbrough, PG 12 MIN | 1-1 FG | 5-6 FT | 2 REB | 3 AST | 7 PTS | -1

The backup point guard this team has needed all season. Stole Brandon Jennings’ candy.