The Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers faced off in a playoff rematch from last season. The only difference is that Giannis Antetokounmpo featured tonight. Aside from that, the intensity and theatrics came in plenty. The game needed a moment of absolute magic from Tyrese Haliburton for the Pacers to squash the Bucks. The ending was especially hurtful for Doc Rivers.

With only a miracle being able to save the Pacers, Milwaukee had a timeout. But Rivers decided against using it because the “set” they ran was something the staff had seen before. Unfortunately, the Bucks players hadn’t. So they were “off the bodies” from the very beginning, which allowed Haliburton to fade into the corner.

Rivers doesn’t blame any of his players for the loss. He thinks it was up to him and his coaching contingent to relay information to the team “We’ve seen it, we’ve worked on it. We just lost them you know. That’s on us, so I told our staff like we got to have our guys prepared better for that. Now we were off the bodies, you can see screaming before the play we were already off the bodies so we were in trouble before the play started,” the Bucks head coach admitted.

Regardless of what happened, the Bucks were up by three points before the Pacers’ final play. Defensive breakdown or not, that wouldn’t have won them the game. Giannis Antetokounmpo over-committing on the shot almost guaranteed the game being tied. But all credit to Tyrese Haliburton.

His shot, reminiscent of his game-winner against them in the playoffs last year was nothing short of splendid. Especially considering his rough shooting night, the young floor general somehow finds ways to be big in those moments. It was ecstatic from the Pacers’ perspective. But for Milwaukee, it was a dreading result.

Doc Rivers won’t forget this so easily

Times have been concerning for the Milwaukee Bucks. They were on a two-game losing streak prior to playing the Pacers. Hence, they were desperate to snap out of that drought. After Damian Lillard knocked down a pair of free throws with four seconds remaining, the team adjusted one task. They had to prevent a three.

There are several ways those last plays could be handled. A contentious strategy is to possibly foul to prevent a three-point attempt. But the Bucks backed their defense, which has some riveting components. Sadly, not only could they not stop Haliburton from hitting a three, but the foul left them with practically no time to do anything.

Giannis Antetokoumpo left it a little short in his last-ditch effort. And those moments won’t escape Rivers’ mind anytime soon. Seeing them being outplayed is something the head coach can find peace in. But this loss came from their blind side. “This was an awful loss for us. It really is and we got a day to get our senses back but these are games you know you win… These are games that just really haunt you,” Doc Rivers admitted after the game.

The Bucks are still the fourth seed. However, dropping their last three games has put that position at risk. Tonight’s win allowed the Pacers to stand with an equal record and breathing down their necks. And with some tough games over a week, the Milwaukee Bucks have to avoid making such errors and bring stability to their team once again.