The Milwaukee Bucks were toppled by the Indiana Pacers tonight. Tyrese Haliburton and Co. beat the second-ranked team in the Eastern Conference in a thrilling encounter. The Bucks were not at their full strength as they were missing their superstar, Damian Lillard, due to an injury.

Giannis Antetokounmpo turned back the clock in Lillard’s absence with a historic performance, but that was not enough to get the Bucks a win over the Pacers. Here are 3 key takeaways from the Greek Freak’s bitter-sweet night.

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo played his best basketball without Damian Lillard

Giannis Antetokounmpo was in revenge mode tonight. The 2-time MVP got ejected in last night’s game against the Detroit Pistons after the referee gave him his second technical foul for mean-mugging a Pistons player following a nasty slam. Giannis scored only 15 points in Wednesday’s game against the Pistons. So, the Greek Freak came out all guns blazing and had a monstrous 54-point performance against the Indiana Pacers. He was just one point shy of matching his career high of 55 points. Giannis turned back the clock and played his best basketball in the absence of his co-star Damian Lillard, who was out for the game due to right calf soreness. Tonight was Giannis’ 8th career 50-point game. His performance against the Pacers proves that Giannis can still play like an MVP when his team needs him.

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2. Bucks cannot afford any missed games from Lillard or Middleton later in the season

Despite Giannis Antetokounmpo’s historic 54-point night, the Milwaukee Bucks were unable to get a win over the Indiana Pacers. Tyrese Haliburton and Co. beat the Bucks 126-124. The Bucks missed the presence of Damian Lillard, who led them to victory in the last game with his 34-point performance. Lillard was out due to right calf soreness, and the Bucks fans are hoping for his quick return. Milwaukee’s third star, Khris Middleton, has also been unavailable for some games this season due to multiple injuries. He had a decent performance in tonight’s game, scoring 19 points in the loss. The Milwaukee Bucks need Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton to stay completely healthy if they want to make a run for the title. The two stars cannot afford to miss any games later in the season as the Bucks are a top-heavy team, and missing even one of their superstars will be a big blow for them. Giannis and Lillard are proving with each game that they fit well together, and Khris Middleton is the perfect third option for a team with Championship expectations. Most importantly, without Jrue Holiday to shore up their defense, they will have to rely on outscoring their opponents rather than restricting them to low totals.

3. The Milwaukee Bucks made a mistake trading Jrue Holiday

Even though the Milwaukee Bucks have created one of the most lethal offensive duos in NBA history with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, they are missing the absence of Jrue Holiday. The Bucks traded Holiday to acquire Lillard, and that has left a gaping hole in their defense. Holiday is one of the best defenders in the league, and he was the defensive anchor for the Bucks when they won the Championship in 2021. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co. might have made a mistake by trading Jrue Holiday. The veteran guard is doing wonders for his new team, the Boston Celtics, and they are among the top teams in the Eastern Conference. Jrue Holiday was even better during the playoffs for the Milwaukee Bucks. During his Bucks tenure, he averaged 17.9 points, 7.9 assists, and 1.6 steals in the playoffs. The Bucks need a player who can play lockdown defense like Holiday.

Read More: Bucks Injury Update: Amid Ejection, Will Giannis Antetokounmpo Play Back to Back Tonight Against the Pacers?

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co. will look to bounce back from this loss in the next game as they face the Orlando Magic on Saturday.

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