The Pacers, who made the Eastern Conference finals a season ago, are led by Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam. Siakam (20.2 points per game) was an All-Star in 2025, while Haliburton got better as the season progressed. He averaged 20.6 points and 11 assists per game after the All-Star break.

The fifth-seeded Milwaukee Bucks and fourth-seeded Indiana Pacers play Game 5 of a best-of-7, first-round series Tuesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

The Milwaukee Bucks face their most critical test of the season as they take on the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 of the NBA Playoffs. With the series hanging in the balance, here's what’s at stake depending on whether the Bucks win,