Ahead of a pivotal Game 3, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers made a bold decision: insert Gary Trent Jr. into the starting lineup to challenge Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton on both ends of the floor. The result? A career night and a crucial Milwaukee victory to stay alive in the first-round series.
Trent exploded for a playoff career-high 37 points, hitting nine 3-pointers — tying Ray Allen’s Bucks playoff record — and propelling the team to a 117-101 win on Friday night.
“It’s really a blessing, a testament to my hard work,” said Trent. “As a kid, I watched Ray Allen. So to be mentioned alongside him as a shooter means a lot.”
The Pacers still lead the series 2-1, with Game 4 set for Sunday in Milwaukee. But the Bucks avoided a 3-0 hole thanks to the electric combo of Trent and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who also dropped 37 points on 14-of-19 shooting, adding 12 rebounds and six assists. It marked the first time in Bucks history that two players scored 35+ points in the same playoff game.
Trent’s biggest contribution came during a massive third-quarter swing, where Milwaukee outscored Indiana by 21 — their largest playoff quarter differential since the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals. He nailed five threes and scored 18 of his 37 points in the period, while playing stout defense that helped limit the Pacers to just 18 points in the quarter.
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“We didn’t get enough stops,” Haliburton said postgame. “That third quarter really came back to bite us.”
Rivers replaced long-time starter Taurean Prince with Trent, shaking up a previously stable lineup. The Bucks also shifted their rotation, giving minimal minutes to Prince (3), Brook Lopez (15), and Kyle Kuzma (20), while leaning more heavily on Bobby Portis and AJ Green — the latter hitting 4-of-8 from beyond the arc.
Damian Lillard struggled offensively in just his second game back from a month-long absence due to a blood clot, scoring seven points on 2-of-12 shooting. But he made key defensive plays with two steals and two blocks.
“I understand it’s just about finding a way to win,” Lillard said. “You impact the game however you can.”
After the game, Giannis emphasized humility and focus heading into Game 4.
“They’re not going away,” Rivers echoed. “They’re going to play the same way. We just can’t relent.”
