Bucks beat Pacers 128-127 in overtime as Tyler Herro scores 25 in a 19-point comeback

The Milwaukee Bucks came back from 19 points down to beat the Indiana Pacers 128-127 in overtime on Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, as Tyler Herro scored 25 points and the bench finished the job. Milwaukee closed its preseason 2-3; Indiana finished 1-3.

The night belonged to the Pacers early. Pascal Siakam scored all 24 of his points before halftime on 8-of-10 shooting, Indiana ripped off a 22-3 run in the second quarter and took a 71-56 lead into the break. The Pacers then sat their entire starting group for the second half, which opened the door.

How the game turned

Herro led the response. He scored 16 of his points on 7-of-9 shooting in the third quarter, and an 11-0 Milwaukee run cut the gap to 89-84. The Bucks won the period 34-22 and trailed only 93-90 entering the fourth.

The finish was messy and entertaining. Kam Jones hit a fading three to tie it at 113 with just over a minute left, Indiana went back in front at the line, and Milwaukee survived several missed free throws of its own by grabbing offensive rebounds. Kel’el Ware’s dunk tied the game at 117 and sent it to overtime. The Bucks finished with 19 offensive boards to Indiana’s 12, and those extra chances mattered more than their 7-of-16 night at the line.

Bogoljub Marković scored Milwaukee’s first five points of overtime. Indiana regained a 123-122 lead with about two minutes left, but Kasparas Jakucionis, who did not enter until late, made three heady plays in a row to swing it back, and the Bucks held on by a point. Jakucionis finished with three points, four rebounds and six assists in 13 minutes.

Leading performers

Herro scored 25 points in 23:30 on 10-of-16 shooting, including 5 of 7 from three. Rookie Brayden Burries added 14 points, seven rebounds and two steals, Ware scored 13, and Kyle Kuzma and Kevin Porter each had 11. Myles Turner, facing his old team, grabbed 13 rebounds with three blocks. Milwaukee’s bench combined for 68 points.

For Indiana, Tyrese Haliburton scored 17 points with six assists in 20 minutes and was plus-15. Kobe Brown led the reserves with 14, Obi Toppin hit four threes for 12, and Andrew Nembhard (11 points, seven assists) and Ivica Zubac (11 points, 11 rebounds) rounded out a sharp first-half starting unit. The Pacers committed 21 turnovers.

What it means

The Bucks leave camp with Herro in rhythm and Burries pushing for minutes. Indiana learned more from its starters’ first half than from the result, and roster decisions followed: Keba Keita and Rienk Mast, who both played Friday, were waived on Saturday.

What comes next

The Bucks open the regular season at the Washington Wizards on Wednesday, October 21, at 7 p.m. ET (Game Center). The Pacers start the same night at the New Orleans Pelicans at 8 p.m. ET (Game Center). The full box score is in the Game Center for Friday’s game.