Pacers' Fourth Quarter Comeback Denied by Bucks

Milwaukee holds off Indiana's late rally to win 105-99

Feb. 6, 2026 at 10:31pm

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The Indiana Pacers' comeback attempt fell short as the Milwaukee Bucks held on for a 105-99 victory. The Pacers struggled offensively in the second and third quarters, getting outscored 60-36 during that stretch. However, they mounted an 18-2 run in the fourth quarter to trim the Bucks' lead to just four points. But Milwaukee steadied itself and pulled away late to secure the win.

Why it matters

This matchup was billed as a potential Eastern Conference playoff preview, but both teams are currently in very different situations. The Pacers are openly playing for lottery odds, while the Bucks are trying to hang onto play-in contention without Giannis Antetokounmpo. The rivalry between these two teams has lost some of its luster, but there is still potential for an exciting showdown when both squads are relevant playoff contenders.

The details

The Pacers' offensive struggles in the second and third quarters proved costly, as they shot just 13-of-40 from the field during that stretch. The Bucks, meanwhile, poured in 60 points over the same 24-minute span to build a 20-point lead. Indiana mounted a furious fourth-quarter comeback, led by Andrew Nembhard's 18 points in the final period, but key baskets from Bobby Portis and Kevin Porter Jr. helped Milwaukee hold on for the victory.

  • The Pacers' 18-2 run in the fourth quarter trimmed the Bucks' lead to just 91-87.

The players

Tyrese Haliburton

The Pacers' star guard, who was ruled out for the remainder of the season by the team's President of Basketball Operations.

T.J. McConnell

The Pacers' veteran point guard, who moved past Haliburton on the franchise's all-time assists list during the game.

Andrew Nembhard

The Pacers' second-year guard, who scored 18 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter to lead Indiana's comeback attempt.

Bobby Portis

The Bucks' forward, who hit key baskets to help Milwaukee hold off the Pacers' late rally.

Kevin Porter Jr.

The Bucks' guard, who also made important shots down the stretch to secure the win for Milwaukee.

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The takeaway

While the game itself lacked the expected drama and intensity of a potential playoff matchup, it still provided some interesting storylines, including the Pacers' continued experimentation with small-ball lineups and T.J. McConnell's climb up the franchise's all-time assists leaderboard. The rivalry between these two teams may have lost some of its luster, but there is still potential for an exciting showdown when both squads are relevant playoff contenders.