Pacers close out calendar in clash with visiting Bucks

Coming off back-to-back games against the reigning champion Boston Celtics, the Indiana Pacers welcome in the visiting Milwaukee Bucks for an afternoon battle on New Year’s Eve.After Boston dominated the front end 142-105, Indiana bounced back and won 123-114 at TD Garden on Sunday night.Tyrese Haliburton led the way with 31 points and seven assists and was one of eight Pacers who scored at least eight points in the contest.”We knew we were going to respond. We know who we are. It’s a good win for us,” Haliburton said. “I just want to take what the defense gives me. Everyone is on me to get downhill more, shoot more … every game is about learning, growing and getting better.”Milwaukee comes in off back-to-back losses, both without Giannis Antetokounmpo on the floor. After blowing a 13-point lead to Brooklyn on Thursday, they lost 116-11 to Chicago on Saturday night.Damian Lillard returned from injury and led Milwaukee with 29 points and 12 assists. Eighteen of those points came in the second half, but Bucks coach Doc Rivers regretted not getting him more chances at the end of the game.”I got to do a better job of making sure Dame gets the ball in his hands down the stretch of the game,” Rivers said. “We have to have an understanding to get it to him and I just have to get it to him and live with it.”Antetokounmpo leads the NBA with 32.7 points per game and leads the Bucks with 11.6 rebounds. Lillard leads with 7.7 assists per night.Pascal Siakam leads Indiana with 19.8 points per game, with six other Pacers averaging double figures. Siakam also leads with 7.2 rebounds while Haliburton averages 8.7 assists (fifth in NBA) and Myles Turner averages 2.1 blocks (third in NBA).