Milwaukee Bucks forward Ersan Ilyasova shoots during the first quarter of the NBA game against the Indiana Pacers at BMO Harris Bradley Center. PICTURE: USA TODAY

 

DPA/Los Angeles


Turkish-native Ersan Ilyasova had the game of his life but the Milwaukee Bucks star had to live through some anxious moments before enjoying it.   
Ilyasova erupted for a career-high 34 points Thursday, and the Bucks escaped with a 111-107 victory over the visiting Indiana Pacers, when George Hill’s game-tying triple spun out in the closing seconds.
“He was cooking,” Bucks coach Jason Kidd said of Ilyasova. “Everything that he shot pretty much went in.” “I take whatever they give me,” said Ilyasova, who shot 12-of-14 from the field and 5-of-6 on 3-pointers. “I thank my teammates for finding me.”  
Khris Middleton added 17 points and Greece’s Giannis Antetokounmpo had 16 for the Bucks (36-36), winners of two straight following a six-game slide to sit in the sixth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
“Until someone overtakes you or tells you you’re not in the sixth spot than you have to be concerned,” Kidd said. “The guys have worked extremely hard and understand the last two games were big but they’ve all been big.”
C.J. Miles scored 26 points, Hill added 24 and C.J. Watson contributed 23 for the Pacers (31-41), who without starting forward David West (allergic reaction) dropped a half game behind idle Boston for the final playoff spot in the East with 10 remaining.
“We played with energy but we just weren’t very good early,” said Pacers coach Frank Vogel, playing their second game in as many nights after ending a six-game slide Wednesday at Washington.
“You can’t spot a team 23 points and expect to win. I’m proud of our fight and how they got back into it but you can’t start that way.”
The Bucks shot out to a quick 23-point cushion en route to a 34-15 lead after one behind 17 points from Ilyasova, including 12 straight. “It was good to get off to a great start,” Middleton said. “Ersan got hot early and was knocking them down from everywhere.”
The Pacers, however, chipped away to trail 59-47 at halftime and 85-74 entering the final 12 minutes led by Miles, Hill and Watson.
Behind 93-82, Hill hit three consecutive triples along with two free throws, and the Pacers drew within 109-107 on a Roy Hibbert jumper with 19.9 seconds remaining.   
After Antetokounmpo split a pair of free throws to make it a three-point game, Hill had a shot to become hero for the second time in as many nights after Wednesday’s game-winner. He dribbled the clock down and circled to the left wing before launching a 3-pointer that jumped out with 1.8 seconds left. Jerryd Bayless hit a free throw to seal the win. “It felt good,” Hill said. “It was probably the best shot all day, just the worst result.”
Said a relieved Ilyasova: “We’ve had too many games like this all season long. We won the game and we move forward.”