Khris Middleton scored 27 points (11 in the third quarter), and the Milwaukee Bucks went on a 24-9 run in the third quarter to beat the Indiana Pacers 117-98.
The Pacers had gone on a 22-7 run to lead 55-54 when Brook Lopez’s putback put the Bucks ahead for good with 10:50 left in the third quarter. Middleton scored 11 points and Eric Bledsoe added 6 as they pulled away to a 78-64 lead with 3:32 left in the quarter, and they led by as many as 23 in the fourth quarter.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 29 points (18 in the paint) and 12 rebounds.
For the Pacers, Myles Turner had 22 points, 17 rebounds and 3 blocks.
The Bucks shot 50.0% from the field and 40.0% from 3 to the Pacers’ 38.9% and 37.8%. The Pacers got 6 offensive rebounds, about 5 fewer than usual for the shots they missed. The Bucks outscored the Pacers 52-28 in the paint. The Bucks’ starters outscored the Pacers 36-21 in 10 minutes together.