Pacers vs Milwaukee Bucks Timeline: Head-to-Head History

The Indiana Pacers have never lost a postseason series to the Milwaukee Bucks—and that dominance stretches back over four decades, from Reggie Miller’s 1999 sweep to recent overtime thrillers. Here’s how the matchup has shaped up across every game.

All-time regular season: 219 games (Bucks 122 wins) · Head-to-head since 2004: 100 games (Bucks 49 wins) · Latest result: Mar 15, 2026: Bucks 134-123 · 2025 Playoffs: Pacers won First Round 4-1

The key statistics from the matchup history reveal the regular season dominance of the Bucks against the playoff success of the Pacers.

Who is favored to win, Bucks or Pacers?

The head-to-head record shows a clear picture in regular season play, with Milwaukee holding a 122-97 edge across 219 total games. However, playoff history tells a dramatically different story.

Current odds and predictions

In the 2025 Eastern Conference First Round, the Pacers dispatched the Bucks in five games, winning the series 4-1. The decisive Game 5 came down to overtime, with Indiana prevailing 119-118 on April 29, 2025, per game records at Land of Basketball. The Bucks managed just one win in that series—a 117-101 Game 3 victory on April 25, 2025.

Key player matchups

Historically, the Pacers have gotten dominant performances from their star players in playoff matchups. Reggie Miller averaged 26.3 points per game during the 1999 sweep, according to Behind the Buck Pass. That scoring prowess set a template that Indiana has repeatedly followed in subsequent playoff battles.

Did the Pacers eliminate the Bucks?

Yes. The Pacers eliminated the Bucks in the 2025 NBA Playoffs First Round, closing out the series with a dramatic 119-118 overtime victory on April 29, 2025.

2025 Playoffs First Round outcome

The series result was decisive: Pacers 4, Bucks 1. Game scores showed Indiana’s dominance early—wins of 117-98 (April 19) and 123-115 (April 22) gave the Pacers a commanding 2-0 lead. Milwaukee avoided the sweep with a 117-101 win in Game 3, but the Pacers answered with a 129-103 victory in Game 4 on April 27, 2025, per Land of Basketball.

Game-by-game recap

The overtime clincher in Game 5 was the series’ defining moment. With the score tied at 118-118 in regulation, Indiana found the winning basket in the extra period to seal the series. This marked the fourth consecutive playoff series victory for the Pacers over the Bucks.

Do Pacers win Game 7?

The Pacers never needed a Game 7 against the Bucks in any of their four playoff series matchups.

Game 7 details

In 1999, the Pacers swept the Bucks 3-0 in the Eastern Conference First Round. In 2000, Indiana won the series 3-2, eliminating Milwaukee in Game 5—not Game 7. The 2024 series ended 4-2 in favor of the Pacers, with Game 6 on May 2, 2024 (120-98). The 2025 series concluded 4-1 with the overtime Game 5 thriller.

Key moments

Every Pacers victory over Milwaukee in the playoffs has come before the series reached a seventh game. The closest call was the 2000 series, which went five games. The most dramatic finish was the 2025 Game 5 overtime victory (119-118).

Pacers vs Bucks Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today’s NBA Game

Predicting individual regular season games between these teams requires examining recent performance trends and roster health, which falls outside verified data in our sources.

Expert picks

The most recent verified result shows the Bucks winning 134-123 over the Pacers on March 15, 2026. The teams are scheduled to meet again on February 6, 2026 (Pacers at home) and March 15, 2026 (Pacers away), according to the season schedule referenced in our content plan.

Betting odds

Betting odds fluctuate based on real-time factors including injuries, home/away status, and rest days. For the most current lines, bettors should check live odds at major sportsbooks before each game.

2025 NBA Playoffs First Round: Pacers vs. Bucks

Four playoff series spanning 26 years tell the story of one of the Eastern Conference’s more lopsided rivalries.

Series timeline

The first playoff meeting occurred on May 9, 1999, with the Pacers winning 110-88. Reggie Miller starred in that series, averaging 26.3 points per game as Indiana swept the Bucks 3-0. The second series came in 2000, with the Pacers winning 3-2 despite a fiercely competitive five-game battle. A 24-year gap followed before the teams met again in the 2024 playoffs.

In 2024, the Pacers won 4-2, with Game 3 going to overtime (121-118, Pacers win). The most recent series in 2025 ended 4-1 with the dramatic overtime Game 5 clincher.

Standout games

The 1999 opener (110-88) and the 2025 closer (119-118 OT) bookend a remarkable rivalry. The first established Pacers dominance; the second confirmed it persists. The 2000 Game 5 (96-95 Pacers win) remains one of the closest series finales between these teams.

The pattern across these four series shows the Pacers consistently finding ways to close out matchups against Milwaukee, whether through dominance or dramatic finishes.

The timeline: All playoff meetings

Nineteen playoff games, four series, four Pacers victories. The Bucks have never won a postseason series against Indiana.

• May 9, 1999: Pacers 110, Bucks 88 — First playoff meeting, per Land of Basketball
• May 11, 1999: Pacers 108, Bucks 107 (OT) — Overtime thriller in Game 2
• May 13, 1999: Pacers 99, Bucks 91 — Sweep complete
• April 23, 2000: Pacers 88, Bucks 85 — Game 1 win
• April 27, 2000: Bucks 104, Pacers 91 — Series tied 1-1
• April 29, 2000: Pacers 109, Bucks 96 — Pacers lead 2-1
• May 1, 2000: Bucks 100, Pacers 87 — Series tied 2-2
• May 4, 2000: Pacers 96, Bucks 95 — Series clinched 3-2
• 24-year gap — No playoff meetings until 2024
• April 21, 2024: Bucks 109, Pacers 94 — Game 1 Bucks win
• April 23, 2024: Pacers 125, Bucks 108 — Series tied 1-1
• April 26, 2024: Pacers 121, Bucks 118 (OT) — Pacers lead 2-1
• April 28, 2024: Pacers 126, Bucks 113 — Pacers lead 3-1
• April 30, 2024: Bucks 115, Pacers 92 — Pacers lead 3-2
• May 2, 2024: Pacers 120, Bucks 98 — Series clinched 4-2
• April 19, 2025: Pacers 117, Bucks 98 — Game 1 win
• April 22, 2025: Pacers 123, Bucks 115 — Pacers lead 2-0
• April 25, 2025: Bucks 117, Pacers 101 — Pacers lead 2-1
• April 27, 2025: Pacers 129, Bucks 103 — Pacers lead 3-1
• April 29, 2025: Pacers 119, Bucks 118 (OT) — Series clinched 4-1

The implication: despite the Bucks’ ability to win individual games and even extend series, they have consistently failed to close out any playoff series against Indiana across four decades.

What analysts are saying

Reggie Miller’s 26.3 points per game in the 1999 sweep set the tone for what would become a recurring playoff nightmare for Bucks fans.

— Behind the Buck Pass (Milwaukee-focused NBA analysis outlet)

The Pacers have won every playoff series against the Bucks, but the margin of victory has narrowed. The 2025 series going to overtime in Game 5 suggests Milwaukee is getting more competitive.

— 107.5 The Fan (Indiana sports radio analysis)

The Pacers and Bucks have written one of the Eastern Conference’s stranger playoff chapters. Indiana has won every series, but Milwaukee keeps pushing closer. The February and March 2026 regular season games will offer another data point in an evolving rivalry.

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In the 2025 Eastern Conference first round, Pacers upset Bucks in five games, where standout performances shine through the 2025 playoffs box scores and full recap.

Frequently asked questions

For fans tracking this rivalry, the pattern is hard to ignore: Milwaukee dominates the regular season, but Indiana owns the playoffs. Whether the Bucks can finally break through in a future postseason matchup remains the central question hanging over this series.