Giannis, Bucks Overcome Lillard Struggles, Impress NBA Fans in Game 3 Win vs. Pacers

Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks secured a 117-101 win over the Indiana Pacers with a strong second-half performance in the first-round playoff series between the two teams on Friday.

Milwaukee avoided falling into a disastrous 3-0 series deficit, now trailing 2-1.

The Pacers led by 10 points at halftime but the Bucks quickly responded in the third quarter, outscoring Indiana 39-18 during the period.

Antetokounmpo was extremely efficient in the paint, finishing with 37 points on 14-of-19 shooting. He also pulled down 12 rebounds and dished out six assists.

The Bucks overcame an inconsistent performance from Damian Lillard, who scored a mere seven points. He shot 2-of-12 from the field, missing seven of his eight attempts from behind the arc.

Gary Trent Jr. stepped up with Lillard struggling, scoring 37 points of his own while shooting 9-of-12 from three-point territory. Trent also racked up a game-high four steals.

Fans were impressed with Antetokounmpo and the Bucks.

Milwaukee's entire rotation was sharp defensively, combining to record eight steals and four blocks. The Pacers shot just 43.3 percent from the field and 31.7 percent from behind the arc as a team.

The Bucks avoided a tough home playoff loss on Friday and will look to even the series in Game 4 on Sunday before it heads back to Indiana.