The Indiana Pacers are set to face the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday in an effort to break their six-game losing streak on the road. This matchup marks the fourth encounter of the season between the two teams, with Milwaukee winning the last game 105-99.
Currently, the Bucks hold an 8-5 record against the Central Division and sit at 11th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 27-39. Conversely, the Pacers struggle at the bottom of the conference with a 15-52 record, ranking 15th in the Eastern Conference.
The game, scheduled for 3:30 p.m. EDT, sees the Bucks favored by 7.5 points, with an over/under set at 228.5. Milwaukee has recorded an average of 110.8 points per game, which is 8.9 points fewer than the 119.7 points they allow. In contrast, the Pacers permit 116.0 points per game while averaging 111.0 points.
In the previous meeting on February 7, Kevin Porter Jr. led the Bucks with 23 points, while Andrew Nembhard topped the Pacers with 22 points. The Pacers have struggled against Central Division opponents, holding a 3-9 record.
In terms of individual performances, Ryan Rollins has been a standout for Milwaukee, averaging 16.7 points, 5.6 assists, and 1.5 steals. Bobby Portis has also been effective, hitting an average of 2.2 three-pointers over the last 10 games. For Indiana, Pascal Siakam contributes significantly with an average of 24 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists, while Jarace Walker averages 14.2 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in his last 10 appearances.
Looking at the last ten games, the Bucks have struggled, securing only 2 wins and averaging 102.9 points, while allowing their opponents to score an average of 119.4 points. The Pacers are in a more challenging position, having lost all ten of their recent games, averaging 110.3 points and allowing 125.4 points per game.
Injury updates reveal that Giannis Antetokounmpo is day-to-day with a calf issue, along with Ousmane Dieng due to illness. For the Pacers, Pascal Siakam is also day-to-day with a knee issue, while Johnny Furphy and Tyrese Haliburton are out for the season due to knee and Achilles injuries, respectively. Quenton Jackson is listed as day-to-day with a calf problem.
This matchup is crucial for Indiana as they aim to regain momentum in what has been a challenging season.
