The No. 4 seed Indiana Pacers and No. 5 Milwaukee Bucks begin the 2025 NBA playoffs in Eastern Conference action at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Bucks won the regular-season series between the teams 3-1.
Both teams come in feeling good about their chances. The Pacers (50-32) won seven of their last regular-season games, while the Bucks (48-34) won their last eight.
The Bucks will be without guard Damian Lillard (24.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game this season) — at least for the start of the series — who hasn’t played since March 18 because of a blood clot in his right leg.
No. 6 seed Indiana beat No. 3 Milwaukee 4-2 in the first round of the 2024 playoffs. The Bucks played without an injured Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Lillard was limited. The Pacers didn’t have an injured Bennedict Mathurin.
Dustin Dopirak is your best Pacers follow. Keep up with him for the latest, and subscribe to IndyStar’s Pacers newsletter.
Pacers vs. Bucks prediction, pick for today, April 19
Dustin Dopirak, IndyStar: Pacers 118-110
“As Pacers coach Rick Carlisle pointed out earlier this week, the Bucks have two of the best players on the planet, but once again they’ll be starting the playoffs with only one available. Of course, given the option between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard on the floor, the Bucks would certainly rather have Antetokounmpo, who may not have a chance at NBA MVP this year but would likely win Eastern Conference MVP if there was such a thing. That obviously makes the Bucks a tougher out than they were last year, but the Pacers look like a tougher out, too, and they do begin this year’s playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The guess here is that’s enough for the Pacers to take Game 1. But if the Pacers drop one of the first two in Indy, look out.”
Pacers vs Bucks playoff schedule; when do the Pacers and Bucks play today, April 19?
(All times ET; *-if necessary)
Game 1, Sat., April 19: at Pacers, 1 p.m.
Game 2, Tues., April 22: at Pacers, 7 p.m.
Game 3, Fri., April 25: at Bucks, 8 p.m.
Game 4, Sun., April 27: at Bucks, 9:30 p.m.
*-Game 5, Tues., April 29: at Pacers, TBA
*-Game 6, Fri., May 2: at Bucks, TBA
*-Game 7, Sun., May 4: Pacers, TBA
What channel is the Pacers game on today, April 19? How can I watch Pacers-Bucks in NBA playoffs?
TV: FanDuel Sports Network, with Chris Denari (play-by-play), Quinn Buckner (analysis) and Jeremiah Johnson (sideline reporting); ESPN, with Michael Grady (play-by-play) and Stephanie White (analysis).
How can I stream, listen to the Pacers today, April 19?
93.5 and 107.5 FM in Indianapolis, with Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analysis) and Pat Boylan (sideline reporting). Game 1 streaming is on SiriusXM channels 86, 82 (Bucks feed).
Are the Pacers favored over the Bucks today, April 19? Indiana Pacers vs. Milwaukee Bucks betting odds
Game 1 favorite: Pacers by 5.5 points
Over/under: 224.5 total points
Moneyline: Pacers -225, Bucks +185
Can I get tickets to the Pacers game on today, April 19?
Game 1 Pacers tickets start at $52 on StubHub.
Look for Pacers tickets on StubHub
Pacers probable starting lineup today, April 19
(with 2024-25 season averages)
- Pascal Siakam (20.2 points, 38.9% 3-pointers, 6.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists)
- Tyrese Haliburton (18.6 points, 38.8% 3-pointers, 9.2 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals)
- Myles Turner (15.6 points, 39.6% 3-pointers, 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 blocked shots)
- Aaron Nesmith (12.0 points, 43.1% 3-pointers, 4.0 rebounds)
- Andrew Nembhard (10.0 points, 5.0 assists, 1.2 steals)
