Betting HubSharp Action
Barstool BushChronicling the Barstool Universe

Milwaukee Bucks at Indiana Pacers

Fri Oct 167:00 PM ETIndianapolis, IN
By JR·2 min read
Bucks(0-0)
Pacers(0-0)
Friday 10/167:00 PM

TLDR: The Bucks are learning to live without Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the Pacers are learning to live with Tyrese Haliburton again. Friday's preseason meeting in Indianapolis puts both of those projects on one floor.

FRI 10/16, 7:00 PM
Bucks
(0-0)
Pacers
(0-0)

Milwaukee brings its first post-Giannis roster, now built around Tyler Herro under new coach Taylor Jenkins, to Indianapolis for a preseason date with a Pacers team that just got Tyrese Haliburton back from his Achilles tear. Haliburton has looked sharp in 2 outings, including 24 points through 3 quarters at Oklahoma City. The game turns on how much both coaches play their regulars: the Bucks host Chicago first, and Indiana rested 4 rotation pieces against the Thunder.

Milwaukee Bucks
  • Herro gives the offense a proven lead scorer
  • Hosts Bulls first, rotation gets another live tune-up
  • First season without Giannis since 2012-13
  • New coach Jenkins still sorting out rotations
  • Ament ankle, 2 guards held out last game
Indiana Pacers
  • Haliburton had 24 through 3 quarters at OKC
  • 2 days of rest after the OKC overtime game
  • Took Finals-rematch Thunder to overtime

Milwaukee is starting its first season without Giannis since 2012-13. He's in Miami now, and the Bucks have handed the keys to Taylor Jenkins, their 4th head coach in 5 seasons. Tyler Herro is the new face in the backcourt, with Ryan Rollins and Kel'el Ware around him in the preseason rotation. Nobody in Milwaukee is pretending the expectations haven't dropped. This month is about finding out what the team actually is.

Indiana's month has been about one ankle and one Achilles. Haliburton came back after 472 days away in the preseason opener at his alma mater, Iowa State, with 7 points, 6 assists and 2 blocks in 16 minutes of a 123-112 win over Minnesota. In the rematch at Oklahoma City, the arena where his Achilles tore in Game 7 of the 2025 Finals, he played through an ankle scare and had 24 points by the end of the 3rd quarter. The Thunder still won it 114-112 in overtime. For a Pacers team that spent all of last season without him, that box score mattered more than the result.

This is an early look, and Milwaukee has a game to play first: the Bulls at home on Wednesday, October 14. That one decides how hard Jenkins leans on Herro and his starters 2 nights later, and whether the guys who sat against Charlotte get their run there or in Indianapolis. Indiana has no game in between. The Pacers get 2 full days off after the overtime night in OKC.

Both injury reports are mostly preseason housekeeping, but they shape who you'll actually see. Indiana sat Andrew Nembhard, Jarace Walker and T.J. McConnell against the Thunder with undisclosed issues, and Aaron Nesmith was rested. That's a big chunk of the rotation that built the Finals run. Whether those 4 suit up Friday is the biggest question on the Pacers' side. Johnny Furphy is still listed out after the torn right ACL. For Milwaukee, Kasparas Jakucionis and Brayden Burries were coach's-decision inactives against Charlotte, and Nate Ament missed that game with an ankle issue.

Tipoff is 7:00 PM ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Keep an eye on 2 things: how many minutes Indiana trusts Haliburton with on a fresh ankle, and whether Herro looks like a guy who can carry an offense that used to run through a two-time MVP. With the opener close, this is about as close to a dress rehearsal as either team gets.

Milwaukee Bucks at Indiana Pacers — Haliburton Hosts the Post-Giannis Bucks at Gainbridge on Friday | Polymarket Odds · Barstool Bush