Game recap: Horrid second quarter dooms Pacers vs. Bucks in Game 1 of NBA playoffs

The Indiana Pacers open their NBA Eastern Conference first-round playoff series against the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday night. The Pacers (47-35) are the No. 6 seed and the Bucks (49-33) No. 3, so Milwaukee has the homecourt advantage in the seven-game series.

Milwaukee is without All-NBA forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf strain) to start the series. The Pacers, who are in the playoffs for the first time since 2020, are led by Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner.

Dustin Dopirak and Gregg Doyel are your best Pacers follows, and we will have updates and highlights throughout. Please remember to refresh.

NBA on TNT reaction: Pacers humiliated by Bucks in first half of Game 1 NBA playoff series

Final: Bucks 109, Pacers 94

The Pacers can't overcome a horrid second quarter and poor 3-point shooting in their first playoff game since 2020. It's, by far, their worst offensive performance of the season.

Pascal Siakam scores 36 points with 13 rebounds, and Myles Turner adds 17 points to lead the Pacers. Tyrese Haliburton has 9 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists.

Indiana shoots 39.6% overall and 8-of-39 (20.5%) on 3-pointers.

Damian Lillard scores all 35 of his points in the first half. (You read that right.) Khris Middleton adds 23, with 9 rebounds, and Bobby Portis adds 15, with 11 rebounds.

Game 2 is on Tuesday night in Milwaukee. The Pacers last won a playoff game on April 27, 2018, in Game 6 of a seven-game series loss to Cleveland.

3:53 left 4Q: Bucks 102, Pacers 85

Pascal Siakam is up to 32 points.

8:54 left 4Q: Bucks 97, Pacers 77

Milwaukee scores 8 quick points. Timeout, Indiana.

End 3Q: Bucks 83, Pacers 71

A 9-0 run over the last 4+ minutes cuts the Pacers' deficit to 12 points. The Pacers commit just 1 turnover in the quarter and hold Milwaukee to 14 points.

2:35 left 3Q: Bucks 83, Pacers 64

The teams are in a stalemate. Just two Pacers are in double figures: Pascal Siakam (27 points) and Myles Turner (14).

7:20 left 3Q: Bucks 75, Pacers 56

The Pacers cut into their deficit early in the quarter. After the timeout is called, Andrew Nembhard and Damian Lillard trade pleasantries, and each is assessed a technical foul.

Halftime: Bucks 69, Pacers 42

Milwaukee dominates late in the first quarter and throughout the second, leading by 30 points.

Damian Lillard has 35 points (!) on 11-of-19 from the field, 6-of-10 from 3, and 7-of-7 free throws.

Pascal Siakam has 19 points and Myles Turner 7 for Indiana, and the Pacers are 3-of-18 on 3-pointers.

Myles Turner hits Indiana's first 3, from the left corner, with 2:48 to go. Just before that, Damian Lillard had scored 29 points, matching Indiana's total.

3:24 left 2Q: Bucks 56, Pacers 29

More of the same. The Pacers are running through their timeouts.

4:38 left 2Q: Bucks 49, Pacers 29

Damian Lillard is back in the back and tearing up the Pacers with a pair of jumpers. He has 24 points, Pascal Siakam 15. The Pacers still haven't made a 3.

8:18 left 2Q: Bucks 42, Pacers 23

Khris Middleton is left alone under the basket for a layup. It's 12-2 in the second quarter. Timeout, Indiana. Pascal Siakam has 10 points. The rest of the Pacers are 6-of-24 from the field and 0-of-10 from 3 with 7 turnovers.

9:45 left 2Q: Bucks 38, Pacers 23

Milwaukee is much more aggressive and the Pacers appear overwhelmed by the moment. The Bucks have an 18-4 run bridging the quarters. Timeout, Indiana.

End 1Q: Bucks 30, Pacers 21

Damian Lillard has 19 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists. He beats the buzzer with a 3. The Pacers are stuck in the mud (35.7% shooting overall, 0-of-9 on 3-pointers, 4 turnovers).

3:18 left 1Q: Bucks 19, Pacers 15

Damian Lillard has 15 points. The rest of the Bucks are 2-of-12 from the field. The Pacers have yet to hit a 3-pointer.

5:06 left 1Q: Bucks 14, Pacers 13

Damian Lillard is already up to 10 points, Pascal Siakam 6. Everyone is cold from long range. The Pacers are 0-of-5 on 3-pointers, and the Bucks 1-of-5.

Milwaukee gets its first lead, 9-6, on three Lillard free throws with 7:50 to go.

Siakam's jumper with 10:25 to go marks the game's first scoring.

Pacers vs. Bucks starting lineups

Pacers: Myles Turner, Aaron Nesmith, Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Pascal Siakam.

Bucks: Pat Beverly, Khris Middleton, Bobby Portis, Brook Lopez, Damian Lillard.

Giannis Antetokounmpo is out for Game 1

The Bucks confirm that the Greek Freak won't play in the series opener.

Pacers news from IndyStar

Xs and Os: How the Pacers and Bucks match up position by position

Slow down?: Playoff basketball tends to be a slog; the Pacers want to be the antidote

Most Important Pacer?: How T.J. McConnell became a tough cover and one of the NBA's top subs

'Those five games don't matter': Pacers expect much different Milwaukee team in playoffs

When do the Pacers play the Bucks in the playoffs?

Sunday, April 21: at Milwaukee, 7 p.m. ET, TNT

Tuesday, April 23: at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBATV

Friday, April 26: at Indiana, 5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Sunday, April 28: at Indiana, 7 p.m. ET, TNT

Tuesday, April 30: at Milwaukee, TBD, TBD (if necessary)

Thursday, May 2: at Indiana, TBD, TBD (if necessary)

Saturday, May 4: at Milwaukee, TBD, TBD (if necessary)

Pacers vs. Bucks Game 1 betting line

via BetMGM

Favorite: Pacers by 1.5 points

Over/under: 231.5 total points

Moneyline: Pacers -120, Bucks +100

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers vs Bucks score updates highlights in Game 1 of NBA playoffs