The Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers may not have a full-fledged rivalry yet, but something is definitely gestating between the two Central Division stalwarts.
The two teams have met five times already this season, and the games have been high-scoring and fierce. The Pacers have won four of them, dropping 126, 128, 126, 122 and 142 points on the Bucks' struggling defense.
With Milwaukee occupying the Eastern Conference’s No. 2 playoff seed and Indiana five games back in fifth place, a postseason matchup feels like a definite possibility.
On Friday afternoon, Bucks guard Malik Beasley added fuel to a potential future meeting by suggesting Milwaukee would be extra motivated in a hypothetical matchup between the two teams.
“I know we’re going to play them in the playoffs, and boy, it’s not going to be pretty for them," Beasley said to TNT reporter Chris Haynes on a Bleacher Report livestream.
Malik Beasley on Pacers beating them four out of five times: “I know we’re going to play them in the playoffs, and boy, it’s not going to be pretty for them.” pic.twitter.com/8uv4LmN2EA
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 5, 2024
In five games against Indiana, Beasley is averaging 9.4 points and 3.6 rebounds on 40.7% shooting from 3-point range.
"Their whole team, to me, is unorthodox," Beasley told Haynes. "Even the way (guard) Tyrese Haliburton shoots ... there's certain teams that just got your number."
The Bucks and Pacers won’t play again in the regular season. But Indiana has some new bulletin board material if they do match up in the playoffs.
