Myles Turner granted Bucks much-needed relief by outshining Pacers replacement

Myles Turner turned in a solid performance in the Milwaukee Bucks' 134-123 win over the Pacers on Sunday. He provided an efficient 13 points while also notching a block, a steal, and four rebounds. The Bucks didn't need him to be spectacular, and what he did was enough to secure the victory. 

It was also enough to outdo Indiana's replacement for Turner, Ivica Zubac, after letting the former leave in free agency. For Milwaukee viewers seeking something positive to hold onto, even if only for a day, Turner answered the bell at last.

Frustrated Bucks fans can still appreciate Turner's minor victory

Acquired from the Clippers at the trade deadline, Zubac finished Sunday's game 4-for-10 from the floor, with seven boards, two assists, and a turnover. He did not attempt a shot beyond the arc. That's not really his game. 

For the Bucks, Turner went 4-for-7 overall and 3-for-6 from distance in 30 minutes of play. Of the two bigs, he had the more efficient, more impactful day. 

That counts for something, right? There is only so much deflation this team can take. With Milwaukee at 28-39 in the standings, a season that began buoyed by hope is circling the drain. 

Turner's underachievement has had something to do with that. The Milwaukee Bucks did not pay him all that money to be an average starter. Despite a decent outing against his former team, that's what Turner has been, losing minutes to backups Bobby Portis and, especially, Jericho Sims. 

Indiana is no doubt laughing at that contract. Bucks fans will eat it: the decision to let him walk served the Pacers well. 

But hey, look on the bright side. Seeing Turner outperform Zubac in their first head-to-head meeting allowed the Fiserv Forum crowd to forget about that for a day. 

Pacers passing on Turner, investing in Zubac is all about next year 

The Pacers paid a pretty penny to acquire Zubac, who has barely played this season as Indiana tanks, quite successfully at that, to increase their odds in the draft lottery. 

In exchange for Zubac, they sent out guard Benedict Mathurin, forward Isaiah Jackson, two first-rounders (2026 and 2029), and a second-rounder. The 2026 first-round pick, which is protected for all but selections five through nine, will otherwise convey in 2031. 

Zubac is still on the right side of 30 and playing on a favorable contract, but that's not a bad haul from the Clippers' perspective. Mathurin has played very well for them. 

For Indiana, adding Zubac this season was all about gearing up for next year, when Tyrese Haliburton will return from a torn Achilles. That goes hand in hand with electing not to pay Turner last July, knowing 2025-26 would be a gap year in Haliburton's absence.

Milwaukee can't look past its long-term mistake

What outdoing Zubac didn't do for Turner was make the Bucks look any smarter overall. It is a minor triumph, no more or less. They're still the ones paying him for the next three years. That's on top of absorbing $113 million in dead money from waiving Damian Lillard as a prerequisite to the Turner move. 

One other thing Pacers fans wouldn't let go without notice: in the loss, backup center Jay Huff scored 16 points off the bench, matching Turner's mark from distance and blocking two shots. Even disregarding salary, is it clear that Turner has outplayed Huff this season? Not really. 

Alas, the Bucks must take their triumphs where they can. Thanks to Turner for giving them one.