MILWAUKEE — Giannis Antetokounmpo showcased an impressive performance with 37 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds, achieving his second triple-double in the last four games, leading the Milwaukee Bucks to a 129-117 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Friday night.

In a previous matchup, Antetokounmpo recorded 22 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists in a narrow 115-114 defeat against Charlotte. For the Bucks against the Pacers, Damian Lillard contributed significantly with 24 points and 12 assists, while Gary Trent Jr. had a standout game with a season-high of 18 points. Bobby Portis also made a solid contribution with 17 points.

The Pacers received notable efforts from Pascal Siakam, who scored 25 points, alongside Bennedict Mathurin with 20 points and Tyrese Haliburton with 18 points and nine assists. However, Indiana has faced challenges lately, suffering three consecutive losses and winning only one in their last six outings.

This victory marked the Bucks’ third consecutive win and their fifth in the last six games. Milwaukee now holds a 2-0 record in the NBA Cup competition, while last year’s tournament runner-up, Indiana, remains winless at 0-2. Both teams are competing within East Group B.

Takeaways from the game reveal how the Pacers, who dominated their previous season against the Bucks with eight wins in 11 matchups, are struggling this year to find their footing. They had even defeated Milwaukee 4-2 in a first-round playoff series last season. The current challenges illustrate the transformation since their successful run to the 2024 Eastern Conference finals.

For the Bucks, coach Doc Rivers acknowledged before the game that there was added motivation for his team, owing to their previous playoff elimination by the Pacers last season. This motivation translated into an emphatic performance, as they never relinquished their lead throughout the contest.

A pivotal moment in the game arrived when Indiana managed to cut the lead down to 108-102 with just over five minutes remaining, after being behind by 20 earlier. In response, Antetokounmpo assisted Trent for a crucial 3-pointer before blocking a shot from Mathurin, leading to a fast break that resulted in an electrifying dunk by Antetokounmpo.

In terms of shooting performance, the Bucks were efficient from beyond the arc, hitting 17 of 36 attempts from 3-point range.

Looking ahead, the Pacers are set to face the Washington Wizards at home on Sunday, while the Bucks will host Charlotte on Saturday.