Preview, prediction and stars for Milwaukee Bucks vs. Indiana Pacers 1st round NBA Playoffs 2024 series

The first round of the NBA Playoffs 2024 already knows some of the matchups that will take place after the conclusion of the regular season. In the East, one of the confirmed series is the one between Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers, which will feature Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam as the main stars of the duel.

Milwaukee Bucks.

The Bucks will have home-court advantage in a playoff series that will start without their star player. Antetokounmpo is recovering from an injury that will keep him out for at least the first few games of the series. Milwaukee finished 3rd in the regular season with a 49-33 record. They have been strong on their home floor, winning 31 of 42 corresponding games. It has been away from Wisconsin where the team has suffered, and a lot, reaching a record of 18-22.

The Pacers, for their part, finally qualified directly for the playoffs by holding on to 6th place with a 47-35 record. At home they won 26 of their 41 games, and away from home they had a stronger record than the Bucks, with 21-20.

Players to watch.

- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks): Although he will not be present for the first few games of the series, the Greek is expected to be key throughout the playoffs. Antetokounmpo has been one of the best players in the regular season, averaging 30.4 points (2nd in the NBA), 11.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game.

- Damian Lillard (Milwaukee Bucks): It was going to be normal that, in his first year with the Bucks as a second-stringer, Lillard's numbers would be down compared to his Portland Trail Blazers version. However, the point guard has had a remarkable regular season, averaging 24.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game.

- Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers): Although he has gone from strength to strength, especially due to his spectacular performance in the NBA Cup where he led the Pacers to the finals, Haliburton has completed a more than acceptable regular season, averaging 20.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 10.9 assists per game (1st in the NBA).

- Pascal Siakam (Indiana Pacers): Siakam was traded to the Pacers midseason. The former Toronto Raptors player has played 41 games with Indiana, where he averaged 21.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.

Prediction.

Antetokounmpo's absence in the first games leaves the series more evenly matched than expected. However, I think the Bucks will eventually prevail over the Pacers in a playoff series that will go almost to the final game.