Next chapter in budding Bucks-Pacers rivalry could take place in playoffs again

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton offers a succinct description of the growing rivalry between his team and the Milwaukee Bucks.

“It’s no secret,” Haliburton said. “They don’t like us. We don’t like them.”

The two Eastern Conference foes met for the last time in the regular season on Saturday night, with the Bucks building a 21-point, fourth-quarter lead and hanging on down the stretch for a 126-119 victory.

But it’s looking increasingly likely that the teams will face off in the opening round of the playoffs for a second straight season.

Milwaukee’s victory Saturday gave the Bucks (38-28) a one-game lead over Indiana for fourth place in the East and the corresponding home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Both teams still must look out for the Detroit Pistons, who are sixth in the East and just two games behind Milwaukee and one back of Indiana.

The Pacers eliminated the Bucks 4-2 in the opening round last season before going on to reach the East finals. Bucks coach Doc Rivers said that postseason matchup helped build this developing rivalry.

“There’s definitely something there, and that’s good,” Rivers said before Saturday’s game. “I think rivalries are great, personally. You can’t just make them up, though. They have to happen. I think this one is happening. And it’s good.”

The key to the rivalry is the spirited matchups between the teams over the last two seasons.

Haliburton mimicked Bucks guard Damian Lillard’s “Dame Time” celebration by pointing to his wrist during Indiana’s victory over Milwaukee in last season’s semifinals of the NBA Cup, which was known then as the In-Season Tournament.

Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo scored a franchise-record 64 points in a victory over the Pacers later that season and then raced toward Indiana’s locker room afterward in a dispute over the game ball.

The Pacers pulled out an improbable 115-114 triumph over the Bucks on Tuesday in Indiana when Haliburton made a four-point play with 3.4 seconds remaining, getting fouled while sinking an off-balance 3-pointer and then making the ensuing free throw.

Milwaukee got a measure of revenge Saturday but only after Indiana nearly pulled off a remarkable comeback. Indiana trailed by 21 with 11 minutes left but got the deficit down to three with 12.7 seconds remaining before the Bucks hung on.

“A team like the Indiana Pacers, they’re going to keep on playing hard, they’re going to keep on trying to create open 3s and trying to get downhill and try to keep on playing fast,” said Antetokounmpo, who had 34 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists Saturday before fouling out. “You’ve got to be ready to play a 48-minute basketball game.”

Indiana’s fast-paced approach represents an interesting contrast with Milwaukee, which has one of the league’s older rosters and tends to operate at a slower tempo.

The Pacers have a younger team that’s led by Haliburton, who grew up in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and now gets boos whenever he plays in his home state.

He may want to get used to hearing them. The Bucks’ victory Saturday gave them a 3-1 edge in their season series with the Pacers, giving Milwaukee the head-to-head tiebreaker if the two teams end up with the same record.

That means there’s a possibility Haliburton could be playing in Milwaukee as many as four times in the first round of the playoffs.

“It’s looking right now like we might be on a crash course to seeing each other again,” Haliburton said. “That’s the beautiful part of basketball. I think everybody as competitors enjoys these matchups, enjoys these games. It’s two small-market Midwest teams, and I think that just makes it even more fun.”

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Indiana Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton wraps his arms around Milwaukee Bucks' Taurean Prince during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Indiana Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton (0) drives against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Indiana Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton (0) drives against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Indiana Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton (0) drives against Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Bucks' Taurean Prince, left and Damian Lillard, right, reach for the ball with Indiana Pacers' Pascal Siakam (43) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Bucks' Taurean Prince (12) reacts after his 3-point basket against the Indiana Pacers during the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

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

LONDON (AP) — After 70 long years the wait is over for Newcastle.

The Saudi-backed club beat Liverpool 2-1 on Sunday to win the English League Cup and end an agonizing trophy drought.

Dan Burn and Alexander Isak scored either side of halftime to seal victory at Wembley. And even though Liverpool substitute Federico Chiesa set up a tense finish to the final with a goal in added time, nothing was going to stand in Newcastle's way.

“After 70 years we can now say we are the champions again," a tearful Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes said. "It's one of the best days of my life."

Newcastle’s last major domestic trophy was the FA Cup in 1955. It won the now-defunct Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1969.

This was its first piece of silverware since being bought by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund in 2021 - a deal that was expected to transform the fortunes of one of English soccer's most iconic clubs.

Burn’s powerful header opened the scoring just before halftime and Isak doubled the lead in the 52nd minute with a sweeping shot from close range.

Chiesa raced through to pull a goal back in the fourth minute of added time, but Newcastle held on to spark raucous celebrations from its long-suffering fans.

While Liverpool is 12 points clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League and looks on course to win a record-equaling 20th English title this season, coach Arne Slot was forced to wait for his first trophy since succeeding Jurgen Klopp last year.

The defeat ended a painful week for the Merseyside club, which was also knocked out of the Champions League on Tuesday after losing to Paris Saint-Germain in a penalty shootout.

"It took us 7, 8, 9 months to lose twice in a row," Slot said. “You know that if you go far in tournaments that the opposition you face gets stronger and stronger. And even Liverpool can lose football games.”

There have been near misses and painful lows during Newcastle's trophy wait, including back-to-back FA Cup final losses in 1998 and ’99 and defeat to Manchester United in the League Cup final two years ago.

On this occasion Eddie Howe's team was a worthy winner against a Liverpool team that has been too good for its top flight rivals this season - losing just once in the league.

“You don’t get many shots at a cup final. Today we had to try to take our opportunity and that’s where the players delivered under pressure so well and so impressively," Howe said. “It also proves proves we can mix our game against the very, very best."

Newcastle fans, whose joyous singing dominated Wembley, will hope this is the start of things to come under its new owners.

Despite being backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund which counts its assets at around $925 billion, soccer’s financial fair play restrictions have limited Newcastle’s spending, meaning it has not been able to make the type of lavish signings seen by Abu Dhabi-backed Manchester City and Qatari-backed PSG. Last summer it only spent around $36 million and recouped around $100 million in sales.

Burn and Isak were two of the big signings under the Saudi era and they delivered at Wembley.

“Hopefully with one (it) can become more," Howe said about winning more trophies in the future. “There’s no guarantee, I just think it proves we can do it.”

Mikel Merino led Arsenal to a 1-0 win against Chelsea in the Premier League to close the gap on Liverpool to 12 points.

Arsenal’s title hopes have faded in recent weeks, but Merino’s first-half header settled the London derby at the Emirates Stadium.

“The only thing we can do is try to win our matches. If we do, we are in a better position,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said.

Merino rose in the 20th minute to flick Martin Odegaard’s near post corner beyond Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. It was enough to secure a first league win for Arsenal since Feb. 15.

Defeat for fourth-placed Chelsea means it missed the chance to extend its one-point lead over Manchester City in fifth and boost its chance of qualifying for the Champions League next season.

Arsenal, on 58 points, is 10 clear of four-time defending champion City.

Three days after beating Real Sociedad 4-1 in the last 16 of the Europa League, Manchester United enjoyed a 3-0 win at struggling Leicester in the Premier League.

Rasmus Hojlund ended his goal drought to open the scoring for United at the King Power Stadium and, after having a goal disallowed, Alejandro Garnacho doubled the advantage.

Bruno Fernandes wrapped up three points with a late goal as the visitors climbed to 13th and inflicted a sixth successive loss on the relegation-threatened Foxes.

United's win was marred by a serious-looking injury to teenager Ayden Heaven. The 18-year-old arrived from Arsenal last month and gave an impressive first-half display on Sunday.

But Heaven’s full Premier League debut came to an agonizing end shortly after halftime, with the United center back taken off on a stretcher after lengthy treatment, having been hurt stopping Patson Daka reaching a cross.

Another setback for Tottenham is likely to increase the pressure on coach Ange Postecoglou heading into the international break after a 2-0 loss at Fulham.

Spurs, in 14th, have only won one of their last five in all competitions and this was a 15th league defeat of the season.

“It’s been a difficult campaign for sure. But I feel we’ve lost too many games that we should have got stuff out of, and this was one of those games,” Postecoglou said. “It’s another international break we go into off a loss and you feel that. We just need to make sure we’re ready for when we come back.”

Rodrigo Muniz gave Fulham the lead in the 78th at Craven Cottage and Ryan Sessegnon doubled the home team’s lead 10 minutes later.

Fulham is eighth and four points behind Chelsea in the race for a Champions League place.

James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson

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

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes scores his side's third goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Leicester City and Manchester United, at the King Power Stadium, Leicester, England, Sunday March 16, 2025. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes, top right, celebrates scoring his side's third goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Leicester City and Manchester United, at the King Power Stadium, Leicester, England, Sunday March 16, 2025. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

Liverpool's Federico Chiesa, right, scores his side's opening goal during the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai and Liverpool's Curtis Jones on the pitch disappointed after losing the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Newcastle's Dan Burn, left, and Newcastle's Fabian Schaer celebrate after winning the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Newcastle United players celebrate with the trophy after winning the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Newcastle players celebrate after winning the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes lifts the trophy after winning the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

Newcastle players celebrate after winning the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

Newcastle's head coach Eddie Howe lifts the trophy after winning the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

Liverpool's Darwin Nunez reacts during the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

Newcastle's head coach Eddie Howe, front, celebrates at the end of the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

Liverpool's Federico Chiesa, right, scores his side's first goal during the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Newcastle's Dan Burn and Newcastle's Fabian Schaer celebrate after winning the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Newcastle's Alexander Isak, left, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

Newcastle's Alexander Isak, centre, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Newcastle's Dan Burn celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the EFL Cup final soccer match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

Arsenal's Mikel Merino, center, greets supporters at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Tottenham Hotspur's manager Ange Postecoglou during the English Premier League soccer match between FC Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur, in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (Zac Goodwin/PA via AP)

Fulham's Ryan Sessegnon, bottom, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal with Rodrigo Muniz during the English Premier League soccer match between FC Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur, in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (Zac Goodwin/PA via AP)

Chelsea's goalkeeper Robert Sanchez fails to save the goal from Arsenal's Mikel Merino, second left, during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta applauds supporters at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)

Arsenal's Mikel Merino, centre, greets supporters at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates stadium in London, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)