All-NBA-Guard Damian Lillard returned to action for the first time since March 18, but couldn’t help Milwaukee Bucks overcome Indiana Pacers.

Pascal Siakam had 24 points and 11 rebounds and Tyrese Haliburton added 21 points and 12 assists to lead Pacers past Bucks 123-115 Tuesday night for a 2-0 lead in the first round playoff series.

Indiana has won five of the last six playoff matches between the teams and never dragged in this one. Pacers had lost three of four games in regular season to Bucks. The teams meet for the 18th time in the last two seasons on Friday, where Game 3 is played in Milwaukee.

Two-time League MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo had 34 points, 18 rebounds and seven assists, and Lillard had 14 points in his first match back from deep vein thrombosis in his right calf. Lillard was 4-AF-13 from the pitch in 37 minutes, in his first action match since March 18 and his first playoffs with Antetokounmpo, who heard a stable diet with countdowns on his free throw.

Bobby Portis Jr. Ended with 28 points, including six 3-Pointers and 12 rebounds for Bucks.

The game had a bit of everything. There was a scrub in front of the Pacers bench that led to double technical mistakes, words between several players in the final minutes, players repeatedly hit the floor, a small zone defense, a smash of full court pressures and of course plenty of points.

But Indiana controlled the entire game after driving to a 31-16 lead of less than 7 1/2 minutes. Bucks spent a late 13-0 race to get within 115-113 with 2:31 to go before Indiana shut it off with an 8-2 race to end the game.

Reporting Associated Press.

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