Milwaukee Bucks vs Indiana Pacers Picks and Predictions April 25th 2025

Bucks Return Home Vowing to “Take Care of Business” Against Pacers

Facing a 2-0 deficit against the Indiana Pacers, the Milwaukee Bucks are looking to reset and recharge as the Eastern Conference first-round series shifts to Fiserv Forum. Head coach Doc Rivers remains confident his squad will turn things around, insisting that the real series begins now with Game 3 on Friday night.

Home-Court Opportunity Could Shift the Series

Despite two early losses, Rivers was quick to remind everyone that Milwaukee has yet to play in front of its home fans.

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“I look at it as a long series (and) we haven’t played a home game,” Rivers said. “We have to go home and take care of business, then we can talk. I’m very confident about this series. Very.”

Milwaukee will host Games 3 and 4, providing a critical chance to even the series. Their recent form — battling back from a 16-point deficit to within two points late in Game 2 — suggests the Bucks still have plenty of fight left.

Defensive Breakdowns Costing the Bucks

The Bucks shot a strong 50.6 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from three-point range in Game 2, but defensive lapses ultimately doomed their comeback efforts. Indiana’s ability to penetrate off the dribble consistently hurt Milwaukee when it mattered most.

“When we got to get a stop, we did not get a stop. Those are the plays to me that are really breaking us,” Rivers said. “It was our inability to contain the ball off the dribble.”

Pascal Siakam hit a dagger three-pointer in the closing minutes to ice the game for Indiana, finishing with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Tyrese Haliburton was equally impactful with 21 points and 12 assists.

If you’re following the latest NBA playoff predictions, Milwaukee’s situation isn’t dire — but they’ll need to clamp down defensively to swing momentum. Get updated expert NBA picks before betting on how this pivotal Game 3 might unfold.

Lillard’s Return Brings New Hope

A major boost for Milwaukee was the return of Damian Lillard, who played for the first time in 15 games after dealing with a blood clot in his right calf. Though visibly fatigued, Lillard logged 37 minutes and posted 14 points and seven assists.

“I kept him (Dame) in. He was exhausted, but I thought, let him blow it out,” Rivers said. “We got two days for him to recover and that’s why I kept him in.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo carried the load as usual, registering a monster 34-point, 18-rebound, seven-assist effort. Bobby Portis added 28 points and 12 boards off the bench, giving Milwaukee a powerful inside-out combination they’ll need to replicate at home.

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However, Milwaukee will require sharper shooting from key role players like Gary Trent Jr. and AJ Green, who struggled from beyond the arc in Game 2.

Evenly Matched Battle So Far

This series remains incredibly balanced historically. The Bucks and Pacers are now tied 3-3 across six matchups this season, with Milwaukee having claimed the regular season series 3-1. Despite the slow playoff start, recent trends show that neither side has a clear long-term edge.

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Indiana has momentum, winning six of their last eight playoff meetings against Milwaukee. But as the scene shifts to a raucous home crowd, the Bucks are banking on familiar surroundings to swing the series back in their favor.