Indiana Pacers

Lore & Background

The 2023–24 season saw the Bucks and Pacers clash in two distinct high-stakes settings. First, during the inaugural 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament, the Bucks won East Group B with a perfect 4–0 record and defeated the New York Knicks in the quarterfinals. Their tournament hopes were dashed, however, by the Pacers in the semifinals with a 128–119 loss. Later, in the playoffs, the Bucks faced the Pacers again in the first round. Milwaukee entered the series severely depleted: Giannis Antetokounmpo missed the entire series due to a calf injury suffered at the end of the regular season, and Damian Lillard also missed postseason games due to injury. The short-handed Bucks were eliminated by the Pacers in six games, suffering a first-round upset for the second consecutive year.

In Their Own Story

The 2023–24 season marked two significant defeats for the Bucks at the hands of the Pacers. In December, the Bucks' perfect run through the In-Season Tournament group stage and quarterfinal victory over the Knicks came to an abrupt end when the Pacers defeated them 128–119 in the semifinals. Months later, in the playoffs, the Pacers once again ended Milwaukee's season, this time eliminating the injury-riddled Bucks in six games in the first round.

Reader's Guide

The Pacers were the primary obstacle for the Bucks in two key competitions during the 2023–24 season. In the In-Season Tournament, the Pacers defeated the Bucks 128–119 in the semifinals after Milwaukee had gone undefeated in group play. In the playoffs, the Pacers eliminated the Bucks in six games in the first round, taking advantage of a Milwaukee team missing Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf injury) and Damian Lillard (injury).

Did You Know?

• The Pacers defeated the Bucks 128–119 in the semifinals of the 2023 NBA In-Season Tournament.
• The Bucks had gone undefeated at 4–0 in East Group B of the In-Season Tournament before losing to the Pacers.
• The Pacers eliminated the Bucks in six games in the first round of the 2024 playoffs.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo missed the entire first-round playoff series against the Pacers due to a calf injury.
• The Bucks' first-round loss to the Pacers marked the second straight year Milwaukee suffered a first-round upset.