It couldn’t have gone much worse for the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday.
After suffering a 129-103 loss to the Pacers in Game 4 at Fiserv Forum, the Bucks will head to Indiana facing elimination in the first round of the NBA playoffs for the third consecutive season.
There isn’t much time for Bucks head coach Doc Rivers to ponder season-saving solutions. Game 5 is at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Tuesday.
The Bucks played without Lillard when he had a blood clot that kept him out a month before returning for Game 2 of this series.
Kevin Porter Jr. provides some hope
If there was any bright spot for the Bucks it was the play of backup guard Kevin Porter Jr.
Lillard left the game with just under six minutes left in the first quarter with a non-contact leg injury. Porter was thrust into a larger role and finished with 23 points, six assists and five rebounds.
Giannis Antetokounmpo carrying a heavy burden
Giannis Antetokounmpo came into the game averaging 35.7 points and 14 rebounds per game in the series.
He struggled in the first half with eight points on 3-for-10 shooting. But he still finished with 28 points, 15 rebounds and six assists.
The short-handed Bucks couldn’t keep up with the go-go Pacers, who were led by Tyrese Haliburton (17 points and 15 assists) and Myles Turner (23 points).