The Bucks, leaders of the East, were the first in the NBA to secure a place in the playoffs on Tuesday in Phoenix but this Thursday they might not celebrate in front of their audience.
Antetokounmpo had 25 points and 9 rebounds but Milwaukee made water in defense once morest some Pacers who did not have their best player, Tyrese Haliburton.
The young All-Star point guard will miss at least two more games for the Pacers, eleventh in the East, with a sprained right ankle.
The Bucks suffered in the rearguard of the loss of Cuban-American center Brook López due to discomfort in his left ankle.
Up to eight Pacers players reached double figures in scoring, with Haliburton relief point guard Andrew Nembhard standing out with 24 points.
In his turn, the Denver Nuggets ended a four-game losing streak by beating 119-100 in a comfortable visit to the Detroit Pistons, last in the East.
The Serbian Nikola Jokic caressed another triple double with 30 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists.
The Sacramento Kings won 101-96 at the Brooklyn Nets court and already occupy the second position in the West.
The team led by Domantas Sabonis, who once once more excelled with 24 points and 21 rebounds, is enjoying a spectacular season in which they are projected to play in the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
In another of the five games on Thursday, the Toronto Raptors beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 128-111 with 25 points and 13 rebounds from Cameroonian power forward Pascal Siakam.
– Results of Thursday in the NBA:
Detroit Pistons – Denver Nuggets 100-119
Brooklyn Nets – Sacramento Kings 96-101
Toronto Raptors – Oklahoma City Thunder 128-111
Milwaukee Bucks – Indiana Pacers 123-139
In Game:
Phoenix Suns – Orlando Magic
