The Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers have a budding rivalry, and so when the two teams surprisingly end up being pitted against each other in the NBA Playoffs, fans are in disbelief.

After all, what are the odds of the two teams, who spent the most part of the 2023-24 season being physical and hating on each other, falling to the third and sixth seeds for a playoff matchup? Sure enough, the NBA couldn’t write a better script than that.

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Indiana Pacers NBA Playoffs

After the Bucks lost to the Orlando Magic and the Pacers took care of business against the Atlanta Hawks in their respective season finales, Milwaukee fell to the third seed while Indiana secured the sixth seed and final automatic playoff qualification spot.

This means that the Bucks will be playing the Pacers in the first round, with Milwaukee getting then homecourt advantage by virtue of having the better record.

The showdown is particularly interesting because of the recent history between the two teams. Who could forget the Giannis Antetokounmpo game-ball incident that had the superstar heated against the Pacers for stealing the ball on the night that he dropped a career-high 64 points?

Prior to that, there’s the Tyrese Haliburton incident when the point guard seemingly mocked Damian Lillard by doing his Dame Time celebration after Indiana beat Milwaukee in the NBA In-Season Tournament semifinals.

Of course in all their five meetings during the 2023-24 season, both teams had been highly physical, with plenty of hard fouls and some dirty elbows highlighting their matchups.

The beef is intense that even Malik Beasley predicted that they will be facing the Pacers in the playoffs. He also promised that when that happens, it’s “not going to be pretty” for Indiana.

Considering all that, NBA fans are so hyped to see them get an early showdown to renew their heated rivalry.

NBA Fans Are Loving Milwaukee Bucks vs. Indiana Pacers in NBA Playoffs

On X, formerly Twitter, several NBA faithful expressed their excitement over the match-up. Many even said (and joked) that the Adam Silver and Co. really knew what they are doing by having the two rivals play each other in the first round–even though the seeding is incidental.

“And now the Bucks and Pacers are playing each other in the 1st round of the playoffs…. The script writers are COOKING this season,” Molly Morrison of Bleacher Report wrote. A supporter agreed, saying “Script writers went crazy we get a Pacers-Bucks first round matchup.”

Another fan said, “Bucks vs. Pacers is gunna be a movie.” A fourth commenter joked, “NBA Twitter is going to be Hell for this Pacers vs Bucks series.”

Indeed, the Milwaukee Bucks versus Indiana Pacers clash couldn’t come any sooner. Game 1 between the two teams is scheduled next Sunday.

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