That is why Damian Lillard and the Milwaukee Dollars teamed up.
With Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined, Lillard took at the function of unquestioned No. 1 possibility for the Dollars towards the Indiana Pacers on Sunday. He ruled — for a 1/2, no less than.
Lillard torched the Pacers for 35 first-half issues his first playoff sport with the Dollars. The end result used to be a 109-94 Recreation 1 Dollars win to calm issues about enjoying with out Antetokounmpo of their first-round collection towards the Pacers.
In 5 regular-season video games with Antetokounmpo within the lineup, the No. 3 seeded Dollars went 1-4 towards the Pacers. With Antetokounmpo in side road garments, Sunday’s sport used to be over via halftime in Milwaukee’s want.
Dame dominates first 1/2
The Pacers as a staff controlled to outscore Lillard via simply seven issues within the first 1/2 because the Dollars constructed a 69-42 halftime benefit. Whilst Lillard lit up Indiana’s protection from long-distance and on the rim, Milwaukee’s protection held Indiana’s league-best offense to its lowest first-half level tally of the season. It marked an emphatic victory for beginners Lillard and head trainer Document Rivers, who used to be introduced on early within the season to turn into Milwaukee’s protection.
The playoff sport used to be Lillard’s first since 2021 after the languishing Path Blazers did not make the postseason in each and every of his final two seasons in Portland. He began with a 19-point first quarter capped via his 1/3 3-pointer of the sport to overcome the buzzer and provides Milwaukee a 30-21 lead.
With Lillard resting to begin the second one quarter, Milwaukee remained in keep watch over and used a 10-0 run to increase its 9-point first quarter result in 44-24. When Lillard returned halfway during the quarter, he picked up the place he left off.
He pulled up from deep past the 3-point arc for his fourth 3-pointer to increase Milwaukee’s result in 49-39.
His 6th 3-pointer of the 1/2 additionally drew a bad. He made his loose throw for a four-point play to increase Milwaukee’s edge to 65-35.
Through halftime, he’d reached a occupation playoff prime for a 1/2. The 35-point first-half tally used to be the highest-scoring via any NBA participant within the playoffs since Kevin Durant scored 38 for the Warriors towards the Clippers in 2019. It is the type of explosion the Dollars had been in search of once they added Lillard final offseason to pair with Antetokounmpo.
Dollars cling on as Lillard fails to attain after halftime
Lillard stunningly went scoreless in the second one 1/2. Nevertheless it did not topic. Milwaukee’s 27-point halftime lead used to be greater than sufficient to resist Indiana’s second-half effort. Lillard completed the sport with 35 issues, six rebounds and 3 assists. He shot 11 of 24 from the sector and six of eleven from 3-point distance.
Milwaukee’s protection, in the meantime, gave the type of effort the Dollars was hoping for once they fired head trainer Adrian Griffin and changed him with Rivers early within the season. Milwaukee held a Pacers staff that led the league with 123.3 issues in step with sport to 42 within the first 1/2 and 94 for the sport. The Pacers shot simply 35.6% from the sector and three of 18 (16.7%) from 3-point distance within the first 1/2. They completed the sport taking pictures 39.6% from the sector and eight of 39 (20.5%) from lengthy distance.
The Pacers made a run as Lillard took simply 3 field-goal makes an attempt in a scoreless 1/3 quarter. Indiana took benefit with a 29-14 third-quarter benefit capped via a 9-0 run that minimize Milwaukee’s result in 83-71.
However there used to be no severe Indiana rally. Khris Middleton picked of the scoring slack in a 23-point, 10-rebound, four-assist effort after scoring 8 within the first 1/2. He shot 9 of 14 from the sector in a go back to All-Celebrity shape after being controlled for harm closely throughout the steady season. Milwaukee would prolong its lead again as much as 102-82 because it held Indiana at bay.
As a staff, the Dollars shot 46.6% from the sector and 14 of 37 (37.8%) from 3-point distance. 6th Guy of the 12 months finalist Bobby Portis tallied 15 issues and 11 rebounds whilst beginning for Antetokounmpo.
Pascal Siakam used to be Indiana’s simplest constant danger on offense in a 36-point, 14-rebound effort. All-Celebrity Tyrese Haliburton took simply 9 photographs in a nine-point, eight-assist, seven-rebound efficiency. Middle Myles Turner struggled from the sector (5 of 17, 3 of 10 from 3) whilst posting 17 issues, 8 rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Will Giannis play on this collection?
The Dollars had been in complete keep watch over as Antetokounmpo — a two-time MVP, five-time All-Defensive staff member and previous Defensive Participant of the 12 months — watched from the bench in side road garments. He neglected the overall 3 video games of the steady season with a calf pressure, and his standing transferring ahead is unclear. The Dollars hope to have him again in time to play within the first around, however Rivers stated pregame that he is but to observe since his harm and declined to supply a diagnosis.
Within the interim, the Dollars will proceed to seem to Lillard and Middleton to hold the offensive load.