A 20-point first-half lead wasn’t enough for the Milwaukee Bucks.
A four-point lead under 1-minute to go in regulation wasn’t enough for the Milwaukee Bucks.
And most shocking, a seven-point lead with 40 seconds to go in overtime wasn’t enough for the Milwaukee Bucks.
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The Bucks blew all those leads and lost 119-118 in the most stunning way to the Indiana Pacers to end their season in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series on April 29.
The Bucks’ season ends at the hands of the Pacers for the second straight season at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. This one will sting, though.
It appeared the Bucks would have enough to get this series back to Milwaukee for Game 6. With a revamped starting lineup, the Bucks jumped out to a 13-0 lead, built a 30-13 advantage after the first quarter and upped it to 33-13 early in the second and still 40-23 with 7:30 left in the half.
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But the Pacers clawed their way back to 47-41 at halftime as they got hot and the Bucks went cold. The lead went back and forth for much of the second half in the most thrilling game of the series before the Bucks took a 103-99 lead with 53.1 seconds to go in the game. But Bucks nemesis Tyrese Haliburton tied the game in the closing seconds to force overtime.
The Bucks then built a seven-point overtime lead late in overtime thanks to Gary Trent’s incredible shooting display with four cold-blooded 3-pointers. But then the wheels came completely off for the Bucks at the worst time. Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard walked into a quick step-up 3-pointer, then Trent lost the ball on the other end. Haliburton then drove the lane with ease like he did for much of the game, making the layup while being fouled. He hit the free throw to get the Pacers within one at 118-117 with 17.0 seconds left. Then Trent, who had been the hero to that point with 33 points, lost the ball again with no one around him with just 10.1 seconds remaining.
Haliburton then drove down for the game-winning lay-in. Gainbridge Fieldhouse erupted, crushing Bucks fans’ hearts again.
Bucks fans and the NBA world were stunned by the manner in which Milwaukee coughed up the game in the most unbelievable way.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: NBA world reacts to Bucks blowing overtime lead to Pacers in playoffs
