The Bucks will head down to Gainbridge Fieldhouse to take on the Pacers in Indianapolis.
Here are five things to know ahead of tip-off between the Bucks and Pacers (7 PM ET, NBA League Pass)
- Turner returns to Indiana: Myles Turner spent 10 seasons with the Pacers, who selected him with the No. 11 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. The big man went into the summer as a free agent, and in one of the more shocking moves of the offseason, signed a four-year contract with Milwaukee. Monday night’s matchup in Indiana will be his first visit to Gainbridge Fieldhouse since his departure.
- Frequent foes: Over the past two seasons, these teams have met an astounding 20 times. Eight regular-season games, a five-game playoff series in 2025, and a six-game playoff series in 2024, as well as an Emirates Cup Semifinals game in 2023. Indiana leads 13-7 across those contests, and Milwaukee will work to even the score on Monday.
- Who’s up next: The Pacers’ injury list appears to grow by the day and overcoming the absence of Tyrese Haliburton for the 25-26 campaign was already a tall task. Coming into tonight, the list of those sidelined has grown to include T.J. McConnell (hamstring), Andrew Nembhard (shoulder), Bennedict Mathurin (toe), and Obi Toppin (foot). In their absences, Indiana has had to lean on the likes of Quenton Jackson and RayJ Dennis; however, even Dennis is now questionable due to a back injury. Which Pacers will be healthy enough and ready to step up against the Bucks?
- He’s been absolutely dominant: Giannis Antetokounmpo is 31 years old, with two Kia MVP awards and several top-5 finishes in MVP voting over the years. However, this season, he has looked better than ever. Yes, it’s only five games, but his 34.2 points, 13.4 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game would all be career highs as would be his 13 field-goals made per contest and his 68.4% shooting from the field. Said differently, the Greek Freak is somehow getting freakier.
- Seeking offense: Indiana rolled out a top-10 offense in many metrics last season, which was integral to their great success throughout the campaign. This year, they’ve struggled mightily. They’re 26th in points per game and shooting just 40.2% from the field, which is last in the league. They’re also shooting a league-worst 30.1% from 3-point land. While the injuries certainly play a significant role in these results, the Pacers will need to find some consistent offense to be competitive here. Especially, considering the Bucks are to-5 in all of these categories.
