Bucks take big lead and then hang on down the stretch to beat Pacers 126-119

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo had 34 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists before fouling out and the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Indiana Pacers 126-119 on Saturday night.

After trailing 105-84 with 11 minutes left, Indiana made a frantic comeback and cut Milwaukee’s lead to 122-119 on Andrew Nembhard’s 3-pointer with 12.5 seconds remaining. The Bucks had led 117-106 when Antetokounmpo fouled out with 2:46 left.

Taurean Prince and Kevin Porter Jr. went 4 of 4 on free-throw attempts down the stretch to preserve the Bucks' victory.

Damian Lillard added 25 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists as the Bucks (38-28) took a one-game lead over Indiana in the race for fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings and home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

The Bucks went 3-1 against the Pacers this season and would own the head-to-head tiebreaker if they end up with the same record.

Aaron Nesmith scored 30, Pascal Siakam 26 and Tyrese Haliburton 24 for the Pacers. Haliburton also had 15 assists to match his season high.

The two teams were meeting four nights after Haliburton’s four-point play with 3.4 seconds left gave the Pacers a 115-114 victory over the Bucks in Indiana. That created a playoff-type atmosphere Saturday with a spirited crowd frequently booing the Pacers.

Pacers: Playing one night after a 112-100 triumph at Philadephia, the Pacers could have let up after falling behind by 21 in the fourth quarter. They instead made this one come down to the wire.

Bucks: Milwaukee has won two straight games to bounce back from a three-game skid

Prince made a few big plays down the stretch to help the Bucks survive. He made a 3-pointer with 1:50 left after Indiana cut the lead to six. Prince also went 4 of 4 from the foul line over the final 18.2 seconds.

Milwaukee shot 54.4% to help the Bucks withstand 15 turnovers.

The Bucks host the West-leading Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. The Pacers visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Milwaukee Bucks' Kyle Kuzma (18) puts up a shot against the Indiana Pacers during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Bucks' Damian Lillard (0) drives against the Indiana Pacers' Miles Turner during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Bucks' Damian Lillard (0) puts up a shot against the Indiana Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) dunks the ball against the Indiana Pacers during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Bucks' Damian Lillard (0) drives against the Indiana Pacers' Miles Turner during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) reaches for a rebound against the Indiana Pacers during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) drives against the Indiana Pacers' Pascal Siakam during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) drives against the Indiana Pacers' Miles Turner during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) drives against the Indiana Pacers during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

SAN BENEDETTO DEL TRONTO, Italy (AP) — Spanish cyclist Juan Ayuso secured overall victory in the weeklong Tirreno-Adriatico race on Sunday, with Jonathan Milan winning the bunch sprint to take the final stage of “The Race of the Two Seas.”

Ayuso had taken the lead from Filippo Ganna on Saturday, with a superb solo attack to triumph atop the hardest mountain stage of the race, and he finished safely in the peloton in San Benedetto del Tronto to get his hands on one of cycling’s most distinctive trophies – after finishing runner-up last year.

The giant trophy of the sea-to-sea race is shaped like Neptune’s three-pronged trident.

Ganna, who had slipped to third the previous day, managed to move up to second after picking up an intermediate time bonus. The Italian ended the race 35 seconds behind Ayuso and just one second ahead of compatriot Antonio Tiberi.

Milan — another Italian — beat Sam Bennett by a wheel in the bunch sprint for the line, with Olav Kooij third.

Paul Magnier crashed just behind them, while fighting for position, bringing down a number of other cyclists.

It was Milan’s second stage win in this year’s Tirreno-Adriatico, matching last year’s tally, where he also won the final stage.

The 147-kilometer stage (91-mile) started in Porto Potenza Picena and included two climbs before finishing with five laps of a flat, 15-kilometer circuit along the seafront.

AP cycling: https://apnews.com/hub/cycling

Italy's Jonathan Milan, right, wins the seventh stage of the Tirreno Adriatico cycling race, from Porto Potenza Picena to San Benedetto Del Tronto, Italy, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)

Spain's Juan Ayuso Pesquera celebrates winning the Tirreno Adriatico cycling race, in San Benedetto Del Tronto, Italy, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)

Italy's Jonathan Milan wins the seventh stage of the Tirreno Adriatico cycling race, from Porto Potenza Picena to San Benedetto Del Tronto, Italy, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)

Spain's Juan Ayuso Pesquera celebrates winning the Tirreno Adriatico cycling race, with second placed Italy's Filippo Ganna, left, and third placed Ita;y's Antonio Tiberi, following the seventh and final stage from Porto Potenza Picena to San Benedetto Del Tronto, Italy, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)

Spain's Juan Ayuso Pesquera holds the trophy after winning the Tirreno Adriatico cycling race, in San Benedetto Del Tronto, Italy, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)

Spain's Juan Ayuso Pesquera celebrates winning the Tirreno Adriatico cycling race, in San Benedetto Del Tronto, Italy, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)