Bucks Battle Injury-Hit Pacers in Early Season Eastern Clash
The Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers faced off on November 3, 2025, in what shaped up to be a telling early-season matchup between two Central Division rivals with very different storylines. The game, held at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, brought plenty of intrigue — from Giannis Antetokounmpo’s injury status to Indiana’s struggle to stay competitive amid a wave of absences.
Milwaukee entered the contest with a 4–2 record, finding their rhythm behind Giannis’s dominance and an improving supporting cast. Giannis, who was listed as probable with left knee patellar tendinopathy, remained the key focus. Despite battling discomfort, he had been putting up MVP-level numbers — averaging over 34 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists per game — and showed no signs of slowing down in his recent outings. The Bucks were also without guard Kevin Porter Jr., who continues to recover from a right knee meniscus tear. His absence left Milwaukee short on depth at the guard position, but the team’s system under new rotations has kept them steady.
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Meanwhile, the Pacers entered the night just 1–5 and reeling from a brutal start to the season. Their leader, Tyrese Haliburton, has been ruled out for the entire 2025–26 season following Achilles surgery — a devastating blow for both the locker room and the offense. Without him, the Pacers have struggled to establish consistency, relying on a patchwork lineup filled with young players and role players. Myles Turner, now with Milwaukee, made his return to Indianapolis — adding an extra emotional layer to the matchup.
Indiana’s injury list read like a full rotation: Andrew Nembhard, Bennedict Mathurin, Obi Toppin, Kam Jones, and T.J. McConnell were all sidelined. Even RayJ Dennis and Johnny Furphy were listed as questionable, though Furphy was expected to play through minor discomfort. With so many players unavailable, Indiana leaned on Pascal Siakam and Aaron Nesmith to carry the offensive load, while younger names were given opportunities to prove themselves.
On paper, Milwaukee entered as the clear favorite — holding a 6.5-point edge according to BetMGM and backed by a 62.7% win probability from ESPN’s model. The Bucks’ balanced offense, averaging nearly 124 points per game, was expected to challenge Indiana’s undermanned defense. Still, despite the odds, the Pacers had one thing working in their favor — fight. Even without their stars, the group has shown flashes of resilience, particularly in their recent upset win over the Warriors.
As tip-off approached, fans anticipated whether Giannis could lead the Bucks to another statement victory, or if the Pacers’ grit and home-court energy might deliver an early-season surprise. Regardless of the outcome, this matchup carried the kind of intensity, drama, and storylines that define NBA nights in November — when teams begin to show who they really are.
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