Doc Rivers’ confidence knows no bounds despite Bucks going 1-6 in consecutive playoff games vs Pacers

The Indiana Pacers reaffirmed their dominance over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night in Game 2 of their first-round series, even with Damian Lillard back in the lineup to support Doc Rivers’ squad. The Bucks now trail 0-2 in the series and have won just one of their last seven playoff matchups against the Pacers.

After a 19-point loss in Game 1, the Bucks put up more of a fight in Tuesday’s Game 2. Though they trailed throughout, they stayed close until the Pacers pulled away late to secure a 123-115 victory.

Encouraged by his team’s effort, Rivers voiced optimism about the Bucks’ chances.

“I’m very confident about this series,” he said. “Very.”

This marks the second consecutive postseason the Bucks and Pacers have met in the first round. Last year, Indiana eliminated Milwaukee in six games, with the Bucks taking Games 1 and 5 before falling by 22 in Game 6 in a series impacted by injuries to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Lillard.

Antetokounmpo turned in another standout performance Tuesday, posting 34 points, 18 rebounds and seven assists while shooting 14-for-20. Lillard, returning from a blood clot in his right calf, showed some rust with 14 points on 13 attempts, but Bobby Portis brought energy off the bench with 28 points and 12 boards.

The Pacers relied on balanced scoring, with Pascal Siakam (24 points, 11 rebounds) and Tyrese Haliburton (21 points, 12 assists) pacing six players in double figures.

Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo shares mindset after falling behind 0-2 to Pacers

Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered strong performances in both of Milwaukee’s losses to Indiana in the first round. In Game 1, he posted a heroic 36 points and 12 rebounds while Lillard sat out and two Bucks starters failed to score.

His Game 2 effort included game highs of 34 points and 18 rebounds.

After the game, Antetokounmpo said his focus had already shifted to Game 3 and suggested, without elaborating, that he knows what’s needed to spark a comeback.

“My mindset right now is Game 3,” he said. “I know the f**king deal, man. I just know the deal. I know what I gotta do.”

Game 3 is set for Friday, April 25, in Milwaukee. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.

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John Ezekiel Hirro is an experienced NBA and WNBA journalist at Sportskeeda, with over five years in the field as a news correspondent, sports writer, and Editor-in-Chief. His sports writing career began in high school, where he garnered numerous accolades, including being named the national sports writing champion in 2016.

He earned his journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines in 2024 and served as the Editor-in-Chief of The Varsitarian, the university’s official student publication, for four years—the longest in history.

A passionate basketball enthusiast, he became a fan of the OKC Thunder during the Russ-KD-Harden era. Russell Westbrook, his all-time favorite athlete, impressed him by stepping up as MVP after Kevin Durant’s departure. His current favorite players include Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, who he believes are the future of the OKC franchise.

He excels in game analysis and rapid news story turnaround, drawing inspiration from the journalistic styles of Woj and Shams. He emphasizes thorough research to ensure accuracy in his articles. One of his most memorable moments is Russell Westbrook breaking Oscar Robertson’s record with his 42nd triple-double and securing a 106-105 victory over the Denver Nuggets with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer. Outside of writing, he enjoys listening to music and creating Spotify playlists.

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