Bucks Eliminated from Playoffs By Pacers as NBA Fans Lament Giannis, Lillard Injuries

The Indiana Pacers eliminated the Milwaukee Bucks from the NBA playoffs on Thursday night, winning Game 6 by the final score of 120-98.

The Pacers earned a series victory with a balanced offensive performance, as four starters finished with at least 14 points. Backup forward Obi Toppin was Indiana's leading scorer, dropping 21 points and grabbing eight rebounds in 24 minutes off the bench.

Injuries took a heavy toll on the Bucks, as superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo failed to appear in a single first-round postseason game due to a calf strain that he suffered on April 9.

All-Star point guard Damian Lillard returned after a two-game absence due to an Achilles issue, although his 28 points and four assists weren't enough to keep Milwaukee's season alive.

Fans were disappointed with the Bucks' injury-plagued year, referencing Antetokounmpo's two missed games during the team's first-round playoff exit in 2023.

After the Bucks won a championship in 2021, they've failed to advance beyond the second-round of the playoffs in three seasons since. Antetokounmpo's health has been a large factor in their recent postseason exits and will be something to monitor in future years.

As for the Pacers, they secured the organization's first playoff series win since 2014. All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton and the rest of Indiana's supporting cast will now face off against the winner of the first-round clash between the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers in the conference semifinals.