Road to the O'Brien: Bucks Vs Pacers First Round Matchup

ANAHEIM, CA APRIL 19, 2025

The 2025 NBA Playoffs are off and we have a good matchup in this Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers first round series. While this may not be a historic rivalry filled with bad blood and classic moments, it's a stylistic Central Division clash that’s shaping up to be one of the most competitive battles in the opening round.

The Indiana Pacers have been one of the most underrated teams in the league all season long. They play fast, they play smart, and they play as a unit. Led by All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana secured the 4 seed in the Eastern Conference and are looking to make some real postseason noise after last year's of Eastern Conference Finals appearance.

The Milwaukee Bucks, on the other hand, enter the playoffs with a chip on their shoulder. After a turbulent regular season riddled with coaching changes and inconsistent play, the Bucks still have one of the most dominant players in the league in Giannis Antetokounmpo and the unexpected return of Damian Lillard. That duo alone makes them dangerous.

Key Player Matchups

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Tyrese Haliburton vs. Damian Lillard

This one’s going to be fireworks. Haliburton is the engine of the Pacers’ offense coming of the regular season as one of the league’s best playmakers and a constant three-level scoring threat. Lillard, meanwhile, is built for the playoffs. His range, his toughness, and his clutch gene are unmatched when he’s locked in. Expect back-and-forth scoring runs, deep threes, and big fourth-quarter moments between these two floor generals.

Giannis Antetokounmpo vs. Pascal Siakam

While nobody in the league can truly "stop" Giannis, Siakam will have the primary assignment of trying to slow him down. Siakam’s length, mobility, and defensive instincts make him a better option than most, but Giannis will still get his. The key will be making him work for every bucket and limiting his transition opportunities.

Bucks Bench vs. Pacers Bench

This is where Indiana holds a clear advantage. The Pacers’ second unit featuring Andrew Nembhard, Obi Toppin, Jalen Smith, and Aaron Nesmith has been one of the most consistent all season long. They push the pace and defend well. Milwaukee, while top-heavy, hasn’t had the same reliability from their bench. That could prove costly in a grind-it-out series, especially with Halliburton being able to better set up those around him and with more depth, compared to Lillard not having much to work with outside of Giannis.

Prediction: Pacers Win in 6 Games

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This series is going to be close. Any time you’ve got Giannis and Lillard in the same locker room, the threat of an explosive win is always there. There’s no denying their playoff pedigree with Giannis being a former Finals MVP and former DPOY, while Dame has hit some of the most clutch shots in modern playoff history. They hope to push Indiana to the limit down to the end of regulation. Expect a few signature performances from each.

But Indiana is simply the more complete team right now.

They have youth, they have depth, and most importantly, they play with an identity. Haliburton controls the pace, Siakam gives them versatility on both ends, and the supporting cast consistently steps up. The Pacers are elite in transition, dangerous from three, and they share the ball better than almost anyone in the league.

What gives Indiana the edge isn’t just talent, it’s cohesion. The Bucks, even with their stars, have looked out of sync at times this season with a new look at small forward in Kyle Kuzma and injuries all season long. And in a deep series, that kind of chemistry gap gets exposed.