Milwaukee Bucks Grades and Reactions to 111-107 Win over Indiana Pacers

Mar 26, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Damjan Rudez (9) holds the ball away from Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during the first quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Once or twice per season Ersan Ilyasova will completely dominate an opponent. Fortunately for the Bucks he chose to go off against a tough Indiana Pacers team who are competing for a playoff spot. Ilyasova’s 17 point, 7-8 shooting first quarter lifted the Bucks to a 34-15 advantage, before finishing with a career-high 34 points. The Bucks absorbed 26 points from C.J. Miles, and 24 from George Hill while holding on for a 111-107 victory over the Indiana Pacers.

The Bucks survived a late Pacers’ surge, but a potential game-tying George Hill three pointer rattled out before falling harmlessly to the Bucks.

But the story of the night is Ersan Ilyasova who continued his strong March run with a virtuoso shooting performance. He flashed his oh-so-sweet back-leaning, high-arcing jumper early and often, hitting 9-10 of his jumpers, his only miss coming on his first attempt. From that point on Ilyasova absolutely scorched the hapless Pacers.

Ilyasova’s shooting clinic couldn’t have come at a better time for the Milwaukee Bucks , winners of two straight, who needed this win to cement the positive momentum they earned on Tuesday night against the Miami Heat.

The victory sends the Bucks back to .500, gives them a 2.5-game cushion over the Miami Heat for the Eastern Conference’s sixth seed, and sends the dangerous Pacers squad to the ninth position in the Eastern Conference.

Most importantly–the Bucks came up big in back-to-back games against the Heat and Pacers that they absolutely needed to win. Not one, but both; and they got it done.

We have your Milwaukee Bucks grades and reactions to their important 111-107 victory over the Indiana Pacers.

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