MILWAUKEE — Don’t count out the Milwaukee Bucks just yet.
Riding Gary Trent Jr.’s best game of the season, the Bucks rolled to a 117-101 victory over the Indiana Pacers in Game 3 of their first-round series on Friday night at Fiserv Forum.
The Bucks narrowed the series deficit to 2-1. Game 3 is Sunday.
Trent, who was elevated to the starting lineup in place of Taurean Prince, poured in 37 points and tied Ray Allen’s franchise playoff mark with nine three-pointers.
Trent’s 18 points in the third quarter helped Milwaukee flip a 57-47 halftime deficit into an easy win.
Giannis Antetokounmpo added 37 points, 12 rebounds and six assists for the Bucks.
The decision to start Trent paid immediate dividends for the Bucks.
How Bucks got off to hot start in Game 3
Trent and Antetokounmpo combined for the first 21 points for Milwaukee. A.J. Green was the next player to register a basket when he splashed a three-pointer at the 2:28 mark.
The only other player to score for the Bucks in the first quarter was Damian Lillard, who dropped in a layup to tie the score at 26 in the waning seconds of the first quarter.
Lillard struggled offensively in his second game back after suffering a blood clot in his leg.
How did Damian Lillard play in Game 3?
Lillard shot 1 for 8 over the first two quarters, going 0 for 5 from long range. In the third quarter, he picked up his fourth foul and sat for a long stretch.
Lillard finished with seven points and five assists. He was 1-for-8 on three-pointers.
The Pacers got within 10 points early in the fourth quarter, but a triple by Trent pushed the lead up to 102-85 with just under six minutes remaining.