Injured Pacers can't beat Bucks in first Ivica Zubac vs Myles Turner matchup
Old vs new in the middle
MILWAUKEE – Before Sunday, Jalen Slawson had never started an NBA game and had just 1:47 of career playing time against the Milwaukee Bucks. It was a short footnote in his career.
Then, Pacers vs Bucks happened. Slawson started and played for 26:35. He was the primary defender on Giannis Antetokounmpo. Head coach Rick Carlisle said that decision was based on matchups and defensive size.
That's all true, but that decision also was influenced by the injury report. The Pacers were without Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Pascal Siakam, Ethan Thompson, Johnny Furphy, and Ben Sheppard against the Bucks. They didn't have as many forward/wing options, a tough reality against Antetokounmpo.
Tony East
"The game planning, you would think it (the injury report) is usually at the top of the list," head coach Rick Carlisle said. "In recent days, as I pointed out the other night, it's just trying to figure out how to get through a game and where we're going to get enough minutes."
The Pacers had 11 players available against Milwaukee, and they were primarily concentrated at the guard and big man positions. While available, all of Obi Toppin, T.J. McConnell, Quenton Jackson, Ivica Zubac, and Aaron Nesmith entered the game with an injury designation and were not going to play big minutes.
And that's how the Pacers ended up with Slawson on Antetokounmpo. It was among their best options. And Slawson did all he could, blocking Giannis twice and pulling in four rebounds. But the Greek Freak did Greek Freak things, finishing with 31 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists in just 23 minutes – he left the game with a knee injury in the second half.
Still, his production was game changing. And the most noteworthy part: he made 11 two-point shots. Milwaukee's starters alone knocked down 18 of them. That was the difference in the game – the Pacers made 21 in total. Despite strong shooting nights from both groups, the Bucks paint presence was stronger (38 to 30 in paint points).
The Pacers had too many turnovers, too (18), and lost Bobby Portis one too many times. Their shooting and ball movement were largely good enough to win, and Nesmith was terrific with a career-high 32 points. But they made too many mistakes against a Bucks team led by a superstar.
"They did a good job of packing the paint," Carlisle said postgame. "There are some very good stretches, particularly in the first half, for us to look at. And there's some things we've got to clean up."
And that's how the Pacers lost their 13th game in a row for the second time this season. A defeat in New York on Tuesday would give the Pacers a franchise-record 14th-straight loss, surpassing the previous record set... two months ago. It's been a painful season, but there were some fun moments on Sunday.
Ivica Zubac vs Myles Turner
The Pacers played the Bucks right after the trade deadline last month, but Zubac had yet to debut for the team. That made Sunday the first game between the Pacers old starting center, Myles Turner, and their new one.
They have different strengths. Zubac is the better rebounder, screener, and post player. Turner is a better shooter and shot blocker. The Pacers and Zubac are learning how to adjust to each other after years of play with and alongside Turner.
The two bigs lined up across from each other for the opening tip off on Sunday. It was their 11th matchup of all time, with Turner's team winning seven times to date.
For the Pacers, while the matchup in isolation and the result meant little, it was a bit of a page-turning moment. Turner played alongside Paul George, Victor Oladipo, Domantas Sabonis, and Haliburton. He went from era to era and star to star. While the Pacers didn't change eras when he left, things will be much different with Zubac around.
"I think he's going to be a big part of what they do for the future. We've still got to wait to see what him and Tyrese can create together," Turner said of Zubac. "But I think for what they're trying to build, he's a very sustainable big."
Nobody on the Pacers made more two-point shots than Zubac (4) on Sunday. He topped the team in rebounds (7) as well, and the Pacers won his minutes by one. But Turner did his thing, making three shots from beyond the arc and blocking a Zubac attempt after defending a pick-and-roll late in the first half. The Bucks outscored the Pacers in his minutes.
On this night, both teams were happy with their centers, and more specifically the performance of the group with their center on the floor. Turner's Bucks got the win. Zubac will be kicking himself for missing some of the hook shots that he did. It was a reflective battle for both franchises.
Carlisle wasn't focused on the matchup at all during the game. "Myles is here now and this is the fourth game. We always have pleasant exchanges with him," he said postgame. "This league is a 'get down to business and what's it looking like now, going forward' and that's kind of how we've approached it."
Now that the Pacers and Bucks have met four times, Turner feels like the matchup is normal. (Editorializing: It's getting there, but it's not yet). "I'm used to it now at this point," he said. But this was his first time battling the team with Zubac, and he likes the fit when it comes to playmaking and physicality.
As for Zubac, this was mostly just another game. He's never been Turner's teammate and didn't choose to be his replacement. But he's still a figure in the matchup, and it will be a story for much of the coming Pacers years.
"He's tough," Zubac said of Turner. "He's a great shooter... you can't be low in a drop, you can't help as much off of him. Great player for a lot of years in this league."
Tyrese Haliburton's shingles recovery
Haliburton hasn't been around the Pacers much since the All-Star break. He came down with shingles, and it's kept him away from the team. But, while not visible to the public, he was in Milwaukee with the squad for Pacers-Bucks.
Carlisle confirmed as much before the game. "He's doing alright. He's with us. Coming off of shingles is no fun because it gets better and it goes away, but you have itching," he said. "So he's dealt with some stuff with that. But he's on the trip. He's doing much better."
Haliburton is, of course, out for the season. But his presence and personality provide a boost for the team, and his return will provide a lift during a losing stretch.
The Pacers are in New York next, the last city where Haliburton was visible with his teammates. He stood on the bench and got to interact with Zubac at the time. Soon, he will get to do that again and keep building a relationship for next season.
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