Watch Damian Lillard score 35 in the first half and lead the Bucks to a 109-94 victory over the Pacers without Giannis

Milwaukee (AP) – Damian Lillard’s sensational start ensured that the Milwaukee Bucks would do well without Giannis Antetokounmpo in their playoff opener.

Lillard scored all 35 of his points before halftime and the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Indiana Pacers 109-94 on Sunday as Antetokounmpo watched from the bench.

“I don’t think it’s all up to me, but I know I need to be a little more aggressive and step forward with a little more assertiveness,” Lillard said. “In the playoffs…it’s about setting the tone. We will see this team many times and you want to establish yourself, especially at home. That was just my mindset, to go out and try to set the tone.”

The Bucks needed Lillard to step up without Antetokounmpo, whose return date is uncertain as he deals with a left calf strain that also caused him to miss Milwaukee’s final three regular-season games. Game 2 of the playoff series is Tuesday in Milwaukee.

Lillard managed to set a Bucks record for points in any half of a playoff game. He didn’t score a goal and attempted just five shots in the second half as the Pacers focused on slowing him down, but the damage was already done at that point.

“He has that professional fighter mentality,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers said. “It’s almost like he’s training for the fight. When the bell rings, he seems ready.”

This was Lillard’s first postseason game since 2021. He spent his first 11 seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers before the Bucks acquired him in a trade.

“The last two years, not being in the playoffs sucked,” Lillard said. “Early vacation. Last year I went to Coachella. I never got to go to Coachella. It’s playing in the playoffs every year. Just having that long summer, it was like, man, I’m over this.

Pascal Siakam had 36 points and 13 rebounds for the Pacers, who scored no fewer than 99 points in the regular season while averaging a league-high 123.3 points per game. The Pacers shot 8 of 39 from 3-point range.

Indiana, which won four of its five regular-season games with the Bucks, is making its first playoff appearance since 2020. The Pacers have not advanced beyond the opening round since 2014.

“It’s easy to say we missed shots and now we’re nervous or something,” said Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton, who had nine points, eight assists and seven rebounds. “It doesn’t matter what you guys do, it doesn’t matter. I just feel like we missed shots, at the end of the day. The ball wasn’t bouncing. And they kicked in the first half and that opened up a hole for us.

Khris Middleton had 23 points and 10 rebounds for the Bucks, while Bobby Portis added 15 points and 11 rebounds.

Lillard had 19 points in the opening period, the highest first-quarter point total by any player in a playoff opener since at least 1997. He had the highest first-half point total by any player in a postseason contest since that Kevin Durant had 38 at halftime for the Golden State Warriors in a 2019 first-round game with the Los Angeles Clippers.

He then received help from his teammates as he took a well-deserved break. Milwaukee outscored Indiana 14-3 while Lillard sat on the bench for nearly the first five minutes of the second quarter.

Once Lillard returned, he picked up right where he left off. He hit a 3-pointer while being fouled and completed a four-point play to extend Milwaukee’s lead to 65-35. The Bucks were ahead 69-42 at halftime.

“The first half was embarrassing,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “No excuses. We simply have to come out better. It was ugly and we all own it.”

Indiana closed the third quarter with nine straight points to cut Milwaukee’s lead to 83-71, but the Bucks regained control.

Jae Crowder and Malik Beasley made 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to start an 8-0 run that extended Milwaukee’s lead to 99-77 with 8:10 remaining. Milwaukee stayed ahead by at least 14 points the rest of the way.