Milwaukee Bucks make franchise, NBA playoff history in Game 5 win over Indiana Pacers

The Milwaukee Bucks had to dig deep to stay alive. There was no Giannis Antetokounmpo and no Damian Lillard. They trailed the Indiana Pacers 3-1 in their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series after allowing a barrage of threes in Game 4. A historic barrage, actually.

The Bucks made a little history of their own on Tuesday night, grabbing a 115-92 win in front of their home crowd at Fiserv Forum to stave off elimination and send the series back to Indiana for Game 6.

Antetokounmpo injured his calf near the end of the regular season and hasn’t played since April 9. Lillard aggravated an Achilles injury in Game 3 of this series. Khris Middleton has carried Milwaukee on his back, averaging 26.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 38.4 minutes – while playing through injuries to both ankles.

Middleton had another huge night, but the Bucks would need more if they wanted to avoid a second straight first-round playoff exit.

Well, they got more. Like a lot more.

Milwaukee Bucks make history with Game 5 performance

Middleton was his usual postseason self, scoring 29 points and grabbing 12 rebounds while dishing out five assists in Tuesday night’s win. But Bobby Portis added 29 points of his own to go along with 10 rebounds after being ejected in the first quarter of Game 4.

Most surprisingly, veteran guard Patrick Beverley came through with a massive 13-point, 12-assist performance.

Those three became the first trio in Bucks franchise history to post a double-double in the same game since 1981, according to ESPN.

Milwaukee also made NBA history by winning a playoff game without its top two scorers.

The Bucks needed a performance for the ages to stay alive. They got it. Now, the series goes back to Indiana with the Pacers leading 3-2 – with a chance that Milwaukee gets Giannis and Dame back.

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