Milwaukee Bucks: 3 takeaways from 118-101 win over Indiana Pacers

Fantastic Forum

The Bucks’ new home was kind to them in the preseason as they picked up two wins out of two, and accompanied those results with excellent performances, and the story remained the same as Friday gave Milwaukee the chance to play their first competitive game at Fiserv Forum.

The players were greeted by an electric atmosphere and a visual feast made up of flashing lights and pyrotechnics prior to tip as, per home opener tradition, the whole roster was introduced to the fans.

That energy left little doubt as to the sense of occasion that can be created in Fiserv Forum, and perhaps feeling some added pressure to deliver in the first game in their new home, the impact of that atmosphere could be seen on the court in the opening minutes.

As the Pacers ran out to an 8-0 lead, the Bucks looked nervy, with Budenholzer later describing his team in the opening exchanges by saying, “we were on another planet or something like that”. Thankfully for those in attendance, those nerves were calmed following a timeout and the Bucks never really looked back from there.

Speaking on the Fox Sports Wisconsin broadcast, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver raved about the Bucks’ new home, stating:

"“It’s spectacular. It’s the new standard in the NBA”."

On a night like Friday, it would be tough to argue with that too. As the Brewers picked up an all-important Game 6 win at Miller Park, Bucks fans were able to spill out of Fiserv Forum and watch another great Milwaukee success in the arena’s live block.

In its own right, Fiserv Forum already stands as a Milwaukee success story. Now it’s up to the Bucks to make that story all the better over the course of the season and beyond.

The Bucks will be back in action to host the New Yorks at 7pm CT on Monday night, with another win at Fiserv Forum firmly on their agenda.