Game recap: Pacers blast Bucks in Game 6, advance to second round of NBA playoffs

The Indiana Pacers lead the Milwaukee Bucks 3-2 in a best-of-7 series with Game 6 Thursday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Bucks star Damian Lillard (Achilles) is active, but Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf strain) remains out. Antetokounmpo hasn't played in this series, and Lillard (32.3 points in Games 1-3) has missed the past two games. Khris Middleton (26.8), Brook Lopez (17.2) and Bobby Portis (15.8 points, 10.6 rebounds) have carried the load.

Pascal Siakam (23 points, 9.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 46.2% free throws), Myles Turner (22, 7.6, 3.2) and Tyrese Haliburton (15.8, 5.8, 9.2) are leading the Pacers.

Dustin Dopirak and Kyle Neddenriep are your best Pacers follows. We have have highlights and score updates throughout, so remember to refresh.

Say what?: Pacers fan oddly trolls Bucks' Portis, Lillard during free throws

Final: Pacers 120, Bucks 98

The Pacers are in the second round of the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2014 after winning the series in 6 games. They play the winner of the New York Knicks-Philadelphia 76ers series, which the Knicks lead 3-2 heading into Thursday's late Game 6.

Obi Toppin (21 points, 8 rebounds) and T.J. McConnell (20 points, 9 assists, 4 steals) have career-best playoff games.

Among the starters, Tyrese Haliburton scores 17 with 10 assists, Pascal Siakam scores 19, Aaron Nesmith 15 and Andrew Nembhard 14.

Damian Lillard, who returned after a two-game absence with an Achilles injury, leads Milwaukee with 28 points. Brook Lopez scores 20 and Bobby Portis 20 with 15 rebounds.

The Pacers made the Eastern Conference finals in 2013 and '14 and had lost six straight series dating to '14.

3:54 left 4Q: Pacers 112, Bucks 93

The offense is getting sloppy on both sides. Milwaukee is 41.8% from the field, 26.9% on 3s. Thanks to a strong third quarter, Indiana is at 53.1% overall, 32.5% on 3s. The Pacers have reached 30 assists, which they have in all their wins this series.

8:06 left 4Q: Pacers 104, Bucks 84

It's a bench party! Obi Toppin has 21 points, T.J. McConnell 20 and Ben Sheppard added his first points on a 3, forcing a Bucks timeout. Milwaukee's bench has 6 points.

McConnell gets one of his sneaky steals to start the quarter, and ends up with another 3-pointer at the end of the play. The Pacers are up 18.

End 3Q: Pacers 93, Bucks 78

T.J. McConnell hits a late 3 and is up to 13 points with 7 assists.

Obi Toppin has 21 points and 8 rebounds to lead the Pacers. Six Pacers are in double figures.

Damian Lillard has 19 points and Brook Lopez 18 for Milwaukee, which can't cut its deficit below 7 late in the period.

4:45 left 3Q: Pacers 78, Bucks 67

Aaron Nesmith's 3 extends the Pacers' lead to 78-63 at the 5:20 mark.

8:45 left 3Q: Pacers 68, Bucks 56

James Johnson and Bobby Portis pick up technical fouls.

Pascal Siakam has 7 points in the quarter.

Myles Turner picks up his 4^th foul with 10:57 to go. Obi Toppin replaces him.

Halftime: Pacers 59, Bucks 47

The Pacers lead by 14 points in the final minute of the half.

Tyrese Haliburton leads the Pacers with 15 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. He hits his first 2 3-pointers, but misses 5 after that.

Aaron Nesmith, who has struggled offensively in the series, has 12 points, including 2-of-4 3s. Obi Toppin has 11 points and 6 rebounds off the bench.

Brook Lopez and Damian Lillard have 14 points each for Milwaukee. Bobby Portis has 9 points and 8 rebounds.

Indiana is 50% from the field while Milwaukee is below 40%.

2:36 left 2Q: Pacers 52, Bucks 42

One play after taking a shot to the mouth on a Bucks offensive foul, Aaron Nesmith hits a 3.

Tyrese Haliburton bails himself out by following his own missed jumper for a putback at the 4:05 mark. The Bucks are getting a lot of second chances with offensive rebounds.

4:56 left 2Q: Pacers 47, Bucks 38

Both teams have gone cold from the field. The Pacers are 5-of-17 on 3-pointers, the Bucks 2-of-12.

8:20 left 2Q: Pacers 42, Bucks 34

Myles Turner, T.J. McConnell and Pascal Siakam have 2 fouls each. The Bucks want to get to the free throw line, where they have excelled in the series (87.4% through 5 games).

The Bucks start the quarter with 5 straight points.

End 1Q: Pacers 33, Bucks 24

Tyrese Haliburton has 10 points and Obi Toppin 9 for Indiana. Brook Lopez and Damian Lillard have 7 each for Milwaukee.

Pascal Siakam posts up Pat Connaughton for a basket and the Pacers lead 29-19 at the 1:35 mark.

Out of the timeout, T.J. McConnell has 2 steals in the span of 10 seconds, leading to a Haliburton dunk and 2 Toppin free throws.

3:09 left 1Q: Pacers 23, Bucks 19

Tyrese Haliburton (8 points) and Obi Toppin (7) are powering the Pacers, who are pushing the pace.

6:59 left 1Q: Bucks 13, Pacers 8

Tyrese Haliburton has a pair of 3-pointers, and that's it for Indiana for the first 4+ minutes. Damian Lillard has 5 points.

Pacers are starting slow, and an 8-point run puts the Bucks up 10-3.

Pacers vs. Bucks Game 6 starters

Pacers: Myles Turner, Aaron Nesmith, Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, Pascal Siakam.

Bucks: Damian Lillard, Khris Middleton, Pat Beverly, Bobby Portis, Brook Lopez.

What channel is the Pacers game on?

TV: TNT; Bally Sports Indiana, with Chris Denari on play-by-play and Quinn Buckner with analysis.

Radio: 93.5 and 107.5 FM in Indianapolis, with Mark Boyle on play-by-play

Streaming: SiriusXM channels 86, 891

More: How to watch Pacers games on Bally Sports during Comcast Xfinity outage

Pacers vs. Bucks playoff series schedule

April 21: Bucks 109, Pacers 94

April 23: Pacers 125, Bucks 108

April 26: Pacers 121, Bucks 118, OT

April 28: Pacers 126, Bucks 113

April 30: Bucks 115, Pacers 92

Thursday, May 2: at Indiana, 6:30 p.m. ET, TNT/Bally Sports Indiana

Saturday, May 4: at Milwaukee, TBD, TBD*

*-if necessary

Pacers vs. Bucks Game 6 betting line

via BetMGM

Favorite: Pacers by 8.5 points

Over/under: 214.5 total points

Moneyline: Pacers -350, Bucks +280

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Recap: Pacers blast Bucks in Game 6, advance to second round of NBA playoffs