The Indiana Pacers, after taking a 2-0 lead against the Milwaukee Bucks, looked poised to take an insurmountable 3-0 lead after taking a ten-point advantage into the second half. 

However, the Bucks got hot, led by Gary Trent Jr. and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who would each score at least 20 points in the second half to finish with 37 apiece. 

While an Antetokounmpo masterclass is to be expected, Trent Jr. isn’t exactly a superstar, although he was able to knock down a remarkable nine of his 12 shots from deep.

Tyrese Haliburton was tasked with guarding him to start the game, and he takes full accountability for blowing his assignment. 

“He had a hell of a game,” credited Haliburton. “We got to do a better job of rotating. I got to do a better job of staying down on shot fakes, grounded contests, and second jumper contests. So it starts with me. That’s my matchup to start the game.”

While Haliburton is not known as an elite defender, guarding a spot-up shooter is not the biggest task, especially when Andrew Nembhard and Ben Sheppard were able to hold All-Star Damian Lillard to only seven points on two made field goals.

The Bucks’ second-best player was a non-factor, but they were able to make the most of Trent rising to the occasion.

Haliburton isn’t backing down from criticisms of his defense, and he knows both he and the team need to be better if they want to steal Game 4. 

“I got to be better,” he again emphasized. “I thought we had a couple of miscommunications. I let in some open ones. And he got hot. So we got to do a better job in Game 4.”

On Sunday, the Bucks will again host Indiana, with the aim of tying up the series before it shifts back to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. 

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