Hield Scores 20, Pacers Upset Bucks 139-123

Buddy Hield, Indy, Beat The Best Team in The NBA

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Currently holding the 11th seed in the Eastern Conference standings, Grand Bahama’s Buddy Hield and his Indiana Pacers are within sniffing distance of the NBA play-in tournament, being only half a game back from the 10 spot.

They got a big boost on Thursday night when they took down the best team in the Conference, the Milwaukee Bucks 139-123.

The game looked like a predictable romp for the Bucks as they got off to a sizable lead early, leading by as much as 13 at the end of the first quarter. The Pacers managed to cut the lead down to 7 at the half, but it looked in the third quarter like the Bucks had the game in the bag, up double-digits for most of the third.

The entire game changed when the Pacers went on an 11-0 run to conclude the third quarter with both teams tied at 101. Indiana would outscore the Bucks 38-22 in the 4th to secure the victory. The victory was punctuated by a Buddy Hield 3 with a minute left in the game.

Hield had 20 points on  8-11 shooting, making 3 of his 5 threes. He added 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 graceful dunk right down the lane.

Buddy Hield through the lane for the S L A M. pic.twitter.com/oBo9jSVL9H

— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) March 17, 2023

Pacers’ rookie backup point guard Andrew Nembhard had 24 points and 5 assists starting in Tyrese Haliburton’s place. Aaron Nesmith had 22 and 5 and TJ McConnel, the other backup point guard had 19 points and 12 assists off the bench.

MVP frontrunner Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 25 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, and dished out 5 assists for the Bucks. 

With this victory, Buddy and the Pacers have won 3 of their last 4 games, keeping their chances of landing in the play-in tournament very much alive.

They have another chance to take down a top east team when they play the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night.