Giannis Antetokounmpo capped his game-high 33-point performance on Monday with a buzzer-beating, turnaround fadeaway to lift the Milwaukee Bucks past the Indiana Pacers, 117-115, in Indianapolis.
Backing down Aaron Nesmith in the closing seconds, Antetokounmpo pivoted at the left elbow just as a double-team from Isaiah Jackson came from the corner. Jackson leapt to block Antetokounmpo’s shot attempt, but the high-arching jumper was just out of his reach as it floated to the rim and in, extending Indiana’s early-season woes.
The home-court loss dropped the reigning Eastern Conference champion Pacers to 1-6 on the season, and Indiana’s fourth loss of six points or fewer.
The Pacers trailed most of the night, but stayed within striking distance thanks both to forcing 18 Milwaukee turnovers and the Bucks’ dreadful 13-of-22 shooting at the free-throw line.
A missed foul shot gave the Pacers a chance to force overtime, as AJ Green missed the front end of two attempts with Milwaukee trying to protect a one-point lead.
He made the second, but Indiana knotted the score at 115-115 on the ensuing possession when Nesmith winded his way through the Bucks defense for a layup with 15 seconds remaining.
Nesmith finished with 17 points as one of four Indiana starters to score in double figures. Pascal Siakam finished with 32 points to lead the Pacers, Jackson posted a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Jarace Walker added 18 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
Milwaukee countered with Antetokounmpo’s big night, which included 13 rebounds for his fifth double-double in six games. His 33 points also marked his fifth performance of at least 30 points this season.
Complementing him were Kyle Kuzma with 15 points off the bench, Cole Anthony with another 11 points in reserve duty, Gary Trent Jr. with 11 points and Green with 13.
Former longtime Pacer Myles Turner had a muted scoring performance, but came up clutch against his former team with a putback to break a 109-109 tie late and an assist to Trent for a 3-pointer on the next possession.
Turner also blocked a Ben Sheppard 3-point attempt in the final two minutes to cap a nine-point, seven-rebound and five-block night.
