The Indiana Pacers and the Milwaukee Bucks, by now, do not like each other, the Bucks more if you wish to be honest. Last season’s memory still haunts the Bucks, and all they could do this time is: Revenge. But what did they do? Crumble under the Pacers’ pressure in the 2 games. Their last 10-game record in the regular season gave an idea that Ant-Man and Co. will be a different beast, shedding past trauma only to ignite a fierce rivalry, combined with the high stakes of the playoffs. An entertaining series was promised, but it was the Pacers who took the onus on taking it to their side. Tyrese Haliburton and Co. had a comfortable win in Game 1 and endured a tight, physical second game to take a 2-0 series lead on their home court. But are the biggies playing in game 3?

Now, the Pacers will be playing on Milwaukee’s home court. They need to use the confidence from the first two wins and will surely be hoping to complete the possible chance of a sweep against the Bucks without letting the guard down. And what’s more important is that their firing player plays tonight. Tyrese Haliburton had a great Game 2, where he orchestrated the Pacers’ offence and was a constant scoring threat as well. And Pascal Siakam has been at his best, leading the Pacers in scoring in the last two games with 25 and 24 points, respectively. Indiana will need both of them to be at the peak of their physical and mental health tonight. So, will Haliburton and Siakam play in game 3? 

Yes, Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam are both available to play tonight. Neither player has any injury scares from Game 2 and will be suiting up tonight at the Fiserv Forum. The fierce Central Division rivalry between the Bucks and the Pacers will be reignited tonight, and Haliburton will be locked in to get his team a healthy 3-0 series lead. 

A couple of days ago, The Athletic published its anonymous player poll in which his peers voted Tyrese Haliburton the most overrated player in the league. But the Pacers shooting guard is unbothered by all that noise, and this is what he had to say about that poll: “I must be doing something right if that’s the case. I don’t have a big speech or comment on it. All I care about is this locker room and winning games, and we’re in position to go to Milwaukee and continue this series on. … I know who I am. I’m confident in my own skin and not worried what anybody thinks.”

That’s a fully focused fighter in a basketball jersey. He could’ve acted out, but Haliburton remained calm and composed. And that just shows the kind of leader he is. He will be looking to block out the Bucks fans’ cheers tonight and get the Pacers rolling from the first whistle onwards. Haliburton ran the show in Game 2 with his playmaking and scoring. He ended the night with 21 points and 12 assists, playing the role of a floor general and a scorer perfectly. 

Haliburton plays with high emotions, and the Pacers’ star let it all out when he threw down a thunderous dunk to put his team up by 8 points in the first half. The crowd erupted, and the Pacers kept their foothold in the game to see it out. Tyrese Haliburton had Siakam to thank for his work on the glass and had a productive scoring night. Pascal Siakam had a tremendous presence under the rim, and his rebounding kept the momentum of the Pacers going. He and the whole team will be super confident about sucking the air out of the arena in Milwaukee. Now, let’s look at the lineup.

Indiana Pacers’ predicted lineup against the Bucks

Apart from Isaiah Jackson, the Indiana Pacers don’t have any other players on the treatment table. The forward tore his Achilles at the start of the season and won’t be returning in the playoffs. But the rest of the squad are fully fit. Here’s how the Pacers are predicted to lineup against the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 3 of Round 1:

Myles Turner, Aaron Nesmith, and Andrew Nembhard had 15, 16, and 17 points, respectively, in Game 2, and they’ll have to do the same again in Game 3 to provide the proper support to Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam. Will the Pacers continue the roll and manage to get one step closer to sweeping Milwaukee? Or will the Bucks swing a comeback and change the narrative? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.