Once more, Damian Lillard delivered a significant performance in the first half of Game 2. Now, the Bucks will require his presence just as much in the second half.
DAME TIME. ⌚️
Damian Lillard just put up 26 PTS with 6 3PM in the 1st half of Game 2 on NBA TV! pic.twitter.com/rypnpA2KNe
— NBA (@NBA) April 24, 2024
The first half performance by Lillard in Game 2 didn’t quite match the explosive display he had in Game 1. In that game, he racked up 35 points and made six three-pointers, propelling Milwaukee to a commanding 27-point lead at halftime. Remarkably, Lillard alone outscored Indiana’s team total of 42 points by seven.
DAMIAN LILLARD IS ON FIRE 🗣️
33 FIRST HALF POINTS 🪣 pic.twitter.com/PEskkKU8xa
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 22, 2024
In Game 2, Lillard’s impressive performance merely prevented the Bucks from falling too far behind. This time, Milwaukee found themselves trailing by five points at halftime, largely due to a strong showing by Indiana’s Pascal Siakam in the first half. While Siakam hasn’t matched Lillard’s scoring output, who amassed 61 first-half points across both games, he still managed to score 21 points by halftime in Game 2, following up on his 19-point first-half performance in Game 1.
Pascal Siakam is pretty good. #Pacers
📺: Bally Sports | 📱: Bally Sports app pic.twitter.com/JCq4s9DqVP
— Bally Sports Indiana (@BallySportsIN) April 24, 2024
Milwaukee will rely heavily on Lillard to step up his performance beyond what he delivered in the second half of Sunday’s game, where he failed to score in 19 minutes of play. Following halftime, he only managed to provide one assist. Despite this, Milwaukee’s lead proved insurmountable. With Giannis Antetokounmpo absent, Lillard must shoulder the scoring load, as there are no other viable alternatives.
