NBA GAME RECAP

Ilyasova leads the Bucks to a victory over Indiana Pacers

The Sports Xchange

March 26, 2015 at 10:51 pm.

Mar 26, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Ersan Ilyasova (7) shoots during the first quarter against the Indiana Pacers at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

MILWAUKEE — Forward Ersan Ilyasova hit five 3-pointers and set a career high with 34 points as the Milwaukee Bucks won consecutive games for the first time in more than a month with a 111-107 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night at the BMO Harris Bradley Center.

Ilyasova made 12 of 14 shots from the field and also had six rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Ilyasova was on from the start and single-handedly outscored Indiana in the first quarter. He knocked down three 3-pointers and had 17 points as the Bucks, who shot 74 percent from the floor in the quarter, took a 34-15 lead.

The Pacers turned the ball over eight times in the first quarter and went 6 of 19 from the field but managed to get back in the game and cut the deficit to eight with Ilyasova on the bench.

But once he came back in, it was more of the same. Ilyasova scored five points during a 7-0 run that put Milwaukee back up by 16 with 4:34 to play. He added nine points in the fourth quarter as the Pacers tried to make a game of it.

Indiana point guard George Hill scored 15 of his 24 points in the third quarter, including four 3-pointers. He made it 94-92 when he hit his fourth 3-pointer with 5:41 to play.

But Bucks point guard Michael Carter-Williams gave Milwaukee some breathing room, converting a three-point play. After an Indiana shot clock violation, Carter-Williams found shooting guard Khris Middleton open in the corner for a 3-pointer with 4:54 left, extending the lead to eight.

Hill had a chance to tie the score with 1.8 seconds left, but his 3-point attempt rolled off the rim and Bucks guard Jerryd Bayless closed the game by hitting one of two free throws.

Carter-Williams was 3 of 11 from the field but made 7 of 11 free throws to finish with 13 points.

All five Milwaukee starters reached double figures. Middleton had 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field, forward Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 16 points and center Zaza Pachulia had 12.

Shooting guard C.J. Miles scored 26 points and reserve point guard C.J. Watson had 23 off the bench for the Pacers, who shot 42 percent from the field and made 14 of 30 3-point attempts but finished with 23 turnovers.

NOTES: Pacers F David West was held out of the game because of an unspecified allergic reaction. … Bucks G Jared Dudley and G O.J. Mayo were both available. Dudley missed Milwaukee’s previous six games because of back issues, while Mayo returned and played five minutes Tuesday night after missing 12 of the last 14 games because of a sore hamstring. … Pacers PG Rodney Stuckey missed his second consecutive game because of a strained left calf. … Indiana allowed opponents to score an average of 108.2 points over the previous six games and began Thursday allowing 97.1 points per game this season. … Milwaukee has lost three of four meetings with Indiana this season and dropped three straight home games against the Pacers.

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