Kosport Magazine: Bobby Portis Ejected in Bucks’ Game 4 Loss to Pacers
The NBA playoffs are heating up and the Milwaukee Bucks are facing a tough challenge against the Indiana Pacers. With their top two scorers, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, out due to injuries, the Bucks were already at a disadvantage. But things got even more difficult when forward Bobby Portis was ejected early in Game 4 after a scuffle with Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard.
The incident occurred in the first quarter when Portis and Nembhard got tangled up while fighting for a rebound. After Nembhard pushed Portis’ arm away, Portis retaliated by shoving him back and making contact with Nembhard’s head. The officials deemed this as two hostile acts and gave Portis a double technical foul, resulting in his ejection from the game.
This was Portis’ first career ejection in a playoff game and it couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Bucks. With Antetokounmpo and Lillard already out, the team was counting on Portis to step up and contribute. However, he only played seven minutes and scored four points before being ejected.
The Bucks’ chances of winning were already slim without their top two scorers, but history was not on their side either. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, this was the 13th time a team has played a playoff game without their top two scorers from the regular season. The record for those previous teams is 0-12, making the odds even more stacked against the Bucks.
Despite the adversity, the Bucks fought hard but ultimately fell to the Pacers 126-113. The Pacers now hold a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, putting the Bucks in a tough spot. Game 5 is on Tuesday in Milwaukee and the Bucks will need to regroup and find a way to win without their top players.
Kosport Magazine Summary:
The Milwaukee Bucks faced a tough challenge in Game 4 against the Indiana Pacers without their top two scorers, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. Things got even more difficult when forward Bobby Portis was ejected early in the game after a scuffle with Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard. This was Portis’ first career ejection in a playoff game and the Bucks’ chances of winning were slim without their top players. Despite their efforts, the Bucks fell to the Pacers 126-113, putting them in a tough spot with a 3-1 series lead for the Pacers. Game 5 is on Tuesday and the Bucks will need to regroup and find a way to win without their top scorers.
