Pascal Siakam finished with 25 points and seven rebounds and Tyrese Haliburton added 10 points and 12 assists to lead the Pacers past the Bucks 117-98 for a a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven first-round series on Saturday.

The Pacers led by as much as 28 and fended off a charge that got the Bucks within 12 midway through the third quarter by holding the Bucks to only three points over the final 5:24. Myles Turner’s 3-pointer with 1:59 sealed the win. Turner had 19 points and four blocks.

Two-time league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 36 points and 12 rebounds but the Pacers held him to just one assist in a rematch of last year’s opening round series, which the Pacers won 4-2. Antetokounmpo missed all six of those games with a calf injury.

AJ Green scored 15 and the only other Bucks to reach double figures were Gary Trent Jr. with 14 and Kevin Porter Jr. with 12. Bucks All-Star guard Damian Lillard sat out as he continues to work his way back from deep vein thrombosis in his calf.

The Pacers held the Bucks, who shot a league-best 38.7% on 3-pointers, to just 2 of 16 in the first half and finished 9 of 37. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle threw an assortment of defenses at Antetokounmpo, who had 24 points over the final three quarters after scoring 12 in his first quarter of playoff action since 2023.

The Pacers took charge with an 11-3 spurt late in the first half, extending the lead to 60-43.

Morant flies around court helping Grizzlies take West’s 8th seed: Two-time All-Star Ja Morant promised a sprained right ankle wouldn’t keep him out of the Grizzlies’ play-in game against the Mavericks with the Western Conference’s last postseason berth up for grabs Friday night.

Morant did more than just play. He delivered a thrilling start and yet another addition to his highlight of dazzling plays with a one-handed slam that had teammate Desmond Bane yelling “Showtime!” at him in celebration after Morant elevated so much his eyes were level with the rim.

The guard scored 16 of his 22 points in the first half, and the Grizzlies never trailed in a 120-106 victory to take the No. 8 seed and a spot Sunday in Game 1 against the top-seeded Thunder.

“I couldn’t feel it ... so I was out there,” Morant said with a laugh.

Bane never doubted that Morant would play.

“I mean he’s MVP-type player, a walking highlight reel,” Bane said. “I was happy he was able to give it a go. I knew he was going to show up.”

Morant had been listed as questionable earlier Friday as the training staff worked to get him ready to play. His status was officially announced about 30 minutes before the tip.

The guard was injured in the third quarter Tuesday night at Golden State with the No. 7 seed on the line. Morant rolled the ankle coming down on Buddy Hield’s foot. Morant limped off the court and returned in the fourth quarter when he was held to four points as the Grizzlies lost 121-116.

The guard occasionally limped to the free throw line Friday, but that was the only sign Morant was playing hurt. He finished with nine assists, seven rebounds and three steals.