Pacers Advance to Conference Semis, Capitals Go Home for the Summer
Pacers Win First Playoff Series in a Decade BOOM BABY! First good playoff news on the HOTPO beat in a long time! By beating an admittedly injury-hobbled Milwaukee Bucks 120-98 last night, the Indiana Pacers won their first playoff series since 2014. Highlighted by an insane Tyrese Haliburton-to-Obi Toppin lob with 1:00 remaining in the second quarter and a 19-1 bench points advantage, the Pacers went into halftime up 59-47. Indiana starting C Myles Turner went into the break with three fouls and Milwaukee veterans G Damian Lillard and SF Khris Middleton were not going to lie down. After a decade of playoff failures, there was plenty to be concerned about. By 10:21 in the third quarter, Bucks C Brook Lopez had drawn one quick foul on Turner, sending him quickly back to the bench, and another on PF Pascal Siakam. At that time in the game, Lopez had eight free throws compared to 11 for the entire Pacers team. Indiana was maintaining a double-digit lead, but as things got chippy between
