Milwaukee Bucks Face Exit After Historic Playoff Collapse

The Milwaukee Bucks suffered a stunning collapse in Game 5 against the Indiana Pacers, blowing multiple leads to lose 119–118 in overtime and exit the NBA Playoffs in the first round for the third consecutive year. Despite a dominant start and strong performances from Giannis Antetokounmpo and Gary Trent Jr., the Bucks failed to close out the game as Tyrese Haliburton led a late Pacers surge, scoring crucial points in the final moments. Tensions boiled over after the game, with an altercation involving Antetokounmpo, Haliburton’s father, and Pacers player Bennedict Mathurin. The defeat, combined with Damian Lillard’s season-ending Achilles injury, has cast significant doubt on Milwaukee’s future competitiveness. With an aging roster and no clear path forward, the Bucks face major questions about their direction, including the future of Antetokounmpo and the need for substantial roster changes. The Pacers advance to face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.