Bucks Secure Third Straight Win Over Pacers In Gritty Battle

The Milwaukee Bucks finally broke through with their first three-game winning streak of the 2025-26 NBA season, defeating the Indiana Pacers 105-99 at Fiserv Forum on February 6, 2026. The victory not only gave Milwaukee a rare taste of momentum but also pushed their record to 21-29, offering a much-needed morale boost for a team that has struggled for consistency in a turbulent Eastern Conference campaign.

Both teams entered the contest hampered by significant injuries and recent roster changes, which shaped the game’s narrative from the opening tip. The Pacers, now 13-39 after the loss, were missing several key contributors, including All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles), forward Obi Toppin (foot), and trade-bound players Isaiah Jackson and Bennedict Mathurin, who were expected to be sent to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of a deal for Ivica Zubac. Zubac, however, was not available for the Pacers as the trade had yet to be finalized.

The Bucks, meanwhile, continued to play without their franchise cornerstone Giannis Antetokounmpo, sidelined since January 23 with a right calf strain. Despite some optimism from head coach Doc Rivers—who said, “He’s gonna play when he’s healthy, we just gotta make sure he’s healthy – he’s getting close”—there remains no concrete return date for the two-time MVP. Milwaukee also missed Taurean Prince (neck surgery), Kyle Kuzma (left calf soreness), and Alex Antetokounmpo, but welcomed back Bobby Portis from a hip injury and saw Gary Harris suit up after a hamstring issue.

For Milwaukee, the win was more than just a notch in the standings. It was a psychological lift. "That's crazy," Doc Rivers told reporters after the game. "I made that comment 100 years ago, 'winning is like a deodorant, it covers a lot of things that stink at times.' When you start winning games, the ball goes in, you feel better, you want to come to practice. When you lose games, you dread watching film, everything is a big deal, the shots get tighter. Now you can see our guys are playing loose, they're playing free, it's nice."

The Bucks had previously failed in four attempts to secure a third consecutive win this season, making this streak a notable milestone. Before this game, Milwaukee was one of only three teams in the NBA—alongside Utah and Washington—that had not managed to string together three victories. Guard Kevin Porter Jr., who led the Bucks with 23 points on 10-of-20 shooting, reflected on the moment: "We haven't had this feeling and been in this situation much this year as we wanted, but we're going to live in the moment and try to make it an everlasting one and continue to get these wins and stack 'em up."

Milwaukee built a commanding 20-point lead with just over nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, but the Pacers refused to fold. Indiana, powered by a furious 18-point fourth quarter from Andrew Nembhard (who finished with 22 points), stormed back to cut the deficit to just four with a little over four minutes left. The Bucks responded, pushing their lead back to 11, but Indiana mounted one last charge, narrowing the gap to 103-99 with 11 seconds remaining. Ultimately, Gary Harris found Bobby Portis for a clinching layup off an inbounds play, sealing the victory.

Ryan Rollins added 22 points for the Bucks, and Portis, back from injury, contributed a crucial 21 off the bench. Jericho Sims, starting in place of the injured Kuzma, grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds, including a dozen by halftime. AJ Green chipped in 14 points, exemplifying the balanced scoring attack that has fueled Milwaukee’s recent turnaround. "I think making shots helps, but I think we were also getting the right ones," Pete Nance said earlier in the day. "I think we were really sharing the ball as a team. Obviously, it’s been a great kind of group effort over the past couple of games."

The Pacers, despite their depleted roster, showed resilience. Pascal Siakam, the team’s leading scorer this season at 23.8 points per game, finished with 19 points, while Myles Turner added nine points and 10 rebounds. Turner, a former Buck, saw limited action in the fourth quarter as Indiana leaned on smaller, quicker lineups to chase the game. The Pacers’ lack of depth, especially at guard and in the frontcourt, was evident, with several players either traded, injured, or unavailable.

Indiana’s recent struggles have been compounded by a series of losses and roster upheaval. The Pacers had lost two straight coming into Milwaukee, including a 131-122 defeat to the Utah Jazz. Their road record—now 3-21—has been a glaring weakness, and the absence of Haliburton and Mathurin has left a considerable scoring void. The recent trade for Zubac is a nod to the future, especially with draft pick protections in play that could influence the franchise’s long-term plans.

For the Bucks, the win capped a week of offensive fireworks. Milwaukee had scored 131 points against the Bulls and 141 in an overtime thriller versus the Pelicans in their previous two games. Against Indiana, eight different players scored, with four reaching double figures. The Bucks’ defense also held strong in key moments, despite missing Giannis’ inside presence. Milwaukee’s record without Antetokounmpo now stands at 6-14, but the recent streak has injected new life into the locker room.

“I think the main thing is that we don't overreact,” Kevin Porter Jr. said about the Bucks’ improved late-game composure. “It's easy to when we've been up the whole game, they finally make the push, break the barrier and get it close. But as long as we stay poised and continue to play through our actions, I think that's the biggest difference.”

Looking at the bigger picture, Milwaukee now holds a 3-0 advantage over Indiana in the season series, having won the previous two matchups in November and December. The Bucks have also gone 6-1 against the Pacers in the last two regular seasons, though Indiana did claim a playoff series win last year. The Pacers’ all-time edge in recent seasons (13-9 over the last 22 meetings) offers a reminder that this rivalry can swing quickly, especially once both teams are healthy.

As the All-Star break approaches, both franchises face pivotal stretches. The Bucks, with a 12-12 home record, will look to build on their momentum and hope for Giannis’ return “sooner than later.” The Pacers, meanwhile, must regroup and hope their new additions and returning players can help steady the ship in the season’s second half.

For now, Milwaukee’s locker room can finally savor the sweet scent of a winning streak—a rare reward in a season that’s been anything but predictable.