2 Studs, 1 dud from Indiana Pacers clutch win over rival Milwaukee Bucks
By Jack Simone
Streaky is a great word for the Indiana Pacers. At the start of the season, they were red-hot, and their run in the In-Season Tournament was just as impressive, but they’ve gone through some downs as well.
Right now, however, they’re on an upswing. The Pacers picked up their fourth win in a row on Monday night, taking down the Milwaukee Bucks - the second-best team in the East and a fast-forming rival.
Giannis Antetokounmpo put up a triple-double, but the Pacers were able to contain Damian Lillard, who shot just 3-of-16 from the floor and 1-of-9 from deep.
Indiana’s bench led the way in this one, so let’s take a look at the studs and dud from the Pacers’ 122-113 win over the Bucks.
Stud - TJ McConnell
With Tyrese Haliburton leading the charge, it’s not every game that another point guard gets a chance to show out and help lead the way for the Pacers. In this one, McConnell did just that.
The veteran point guard played a huge role for the Pacers against the Bucks on Monday night, filling up the stat sheet and helping the Pacers overcome a deficit of 15 points.
McConnell finished the game with 16 points, four rebounds, and nine assists while shooting 5-of-9 from the field and 0-of-1 from behind the three-point line.
He ended the night with a +31, which was the second-best mark on the team behind just Obi Toppin, who was a +35 against the Bucks. Both players made a huge mark off the pine for Indiana.