The Milwaukee Bucks last played a game over a month ago, but the team that beat them, the Indiana Pacers, is headed to its first NBA Finals in 25 years. In doing so, they extend an odd pattern shared by Bucks opponents in recent playoff history.
Beating the Milwaukee Bucks a Path to Glory?
In five games, the Pacers took down the Bucks in the first round for the second consecutive year. After advancing as far as the Conference Finals in 2024, this time they made it all the way to representing the East in the championship.
Of the last six teams to beat the Bucks in the playoffs, they are now the fifth to accomplish this feat.
In fact, each of the last seven Bucks-beaters have made at least the Conference Finals.
More than serving as a consolation to excuse Milwaukee’s postseason shortcomings – “hey, we lost to good teams” – the observation is merely peculiar and intriguing in itself. Of course, the duration of a team’s playoff run can suggest the strength of the roster, but far more has conspired to down the Deer than simply facing good competition. Injuries, fatal roster flaws, ill-suited matchups and disappearing role players – all have played a part in the Bucks’ frustrating postseason performance since their 2021 title run.
Still, with Milwaukee out of the mix, the Finals on pause until Thursday, and the draft and free agency still weeks away, revisiting Bucks-bouncers past makes for an interesting bit of trivia. Strangely enough, those teams that reach the Finals have typically not fared well once there.
Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, NBA Finals
Apr 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) drives for the basket against Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) in the first quarter during game four of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
The Last 7 Eastern Conference Rivals To Defeat the Bucks, Ranked by Postseason Finish
1. The Toronto Raptors, 2019; Beat the Bucks 4-2, ECF; Won Finals 4-2 over Golden State
Okay, by reaching the Conference Finals before even playing the Bucks, Toronto guaranteed its inclusion in the group of seven to go that far. Not only did they defeat Milwaukee to reach the championship, however, the Kawhi Leonard-led Raptors are the only team that ended up slipping on a ring afterwards. Pulling a “Bucks in 6” on Milwaukee, they rattled off four in a row in the ECF after dropping the first two on the road.
2. The Boston Celtics, 2022; Beat the Bucks 4-2, Round Two; Lost Finals 4-2 to Golden State
With Khris Middleton out injured, the Bucks were essentially a two-man offense composed of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday. Pat Connaughton finished third on the team in points per game with 10.3. Despite a monster Giannis series (33.9 PPG, 14.7 RPG, 7.1 APG), the young Celtics finished off the Bucks and then the Heat before losing to the Warriors’ “last dance” squad in the Finals.
3. The Miami Heat, 2020; Beat the Bucks 4-1, Round Two; Lost Finals 4-2 to the Lakers
In the year of “the bubble,” Milwaukee’s loss to the Heat likely led to the addition of Jrue Holiday the following offseason, ultimately creating a title-bound roster, after Middleton led the team in scoring for the series (25.6 PPG). Aside from Giannis, the Bucks relied offensively on the likes of Brook Lopez, Eric Bledsoe and George Hill. They clearly lacked a legitimate third option, prompting Holiday’s arrival.
Miami knocked off Boston before losing to LeBron James and the Lakers next round.
Jrue Holiday, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, NBA Finals
Jul 8, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) and guard Jrue Holiday (21) against the Phoenix Suns in game two of the 2021 NBA Finals at Phoenix Suns Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
4. The Miami Heat, 2023; Beat the Bucks 4-1, Round One; Lost Finals 4-1 to Denver
The first of Milwaukee’s three consecutive first round exits, this series loss to Miami also sparked big change: this time in the form of Damian Lillard, acquired ironically enough by trading Holiday. An omen of things to come, Giannis missed two games due to injury. Next season, he would miss the entire round against Indiana.
The Heat went on to beat the Knicks and Celtics (again) en route to a Finals mismatch with the Nikola Jokic Nuggets.
5. The Indiana Pacers, 2025; Beat the Bucks 4-1, Round One; Playing Oklahoma City in the Finals
Marked as much by Lillard’s Game 3 ACL tear as any other form of devastation, the Bucks’ third straight early exit leaves them facing uncertainty this offseason, with Giannis trade chatter louder than ever. Other than that, there isn’t much to say.
For its part, Indiana subsequently took down Cleveland and, for the second time in two years, New York, and now enters the Finals as massive underdogs to the Thunder.
Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, NBA Finals
May 21, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) celebrates after defeating the New York Knicks in game one of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
6. The Boston Celtics, 2018; Beat the Bucks 4-3, Round Two; Lost to Cleveland 4-3 in the Conference Finals
Milwaukee lost a hard-fought clash between younger pre-MVP Giannis and the earliest edition of the Jayson Tatum-Jaylen Brown Celtics. LeBron still played in Cleveland. Tony Snell was a Buck. Good old days of ancient history.
7. The Indiana Pacers, 2024; Beat the Bucks 4-2, Round One; Lost to Boston 4-0 in the Conference Finals
No Giannis in the first round, Lillard injured as well. Middleton did what he could to keep the Bucks alive, averaging 24.7 points.
After moving on, the Pacers canned the Knicks and lost an uncompetitive series to the eventual champs while suffering their own health issues (Tyrese Haliburton, their best player, appeared in just two games).
Hopefully the Bucks will still be fighting this time next year (or at least longer than they stayed alive in 2025). In that case, we’ll have something better to do than reminisce on past postseasons. For now, the most entertaining thing will be waiting to see if the Pacers, taking on a genuine juggernaut, can avoid the usual outcome of Milwaukee-mogging teams in the Finals.
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