Porter Jr. reflects on dominant win over Indiana.
The Milwaukee Bucks have been in a tough spot lately, playing without two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo for the last seven games as he deals with a right calf strain.
Despite the challenges, Milwaukee found a way to snap their three-game losing streak on Tuesday night with a 111-94 road win over the struggling Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Kevin Porter Jr. led the way with 24 points, six rebounds, five assists, and three steals while shooting an efficient 8-for-13 from the field.
His performance against Indiana was another strong showing in what has been a breakout stretch since returning from a torn meniscus that kept him out until late November.
Porter Jr. Reflects on the Key to the Win
After the game, Porter Jr. kept it simple when talking about what made the difference for Milwaukee.
"The energy man. Everyone was involved tonight," Porter said. "I think when we don't have expectations and the only expectation is to have fun out there, I think we're a lot better team."
That loose approach was on full display Tuesday night, as the Bucks built an 18-point lead in the first half and pushed the margin to 86-61 by the end of the third quarter.
Even when the Pacers trimmed the lead to 99-90 in the fourth, Milwaukee answered with a 7-0 run to put the game away for good.
The performance was part of a strong stretch for Porter since coming back from injury.
In just eight games this season, he is averaging 20.0 points, 7.7 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game while shooting 48.9 percent from the floor.
Those numbers represent career-highs across the board for the 25-year-old guard, and they come at a time when the Bucks need him most with their best player sidelined.
Ryan Rollins provided a major lift off the bench with 23 points on 10-for-15 shooting, while Kyle Kuzma added 15 points and Bobby Portis chipped in 14 points with nine rebounds.
What's Next for Milwaukee
The win moved Milwaukee to 12-18 on the season, and though the Bucks still have a long way to go to climb back toward .500, this victory shows they can compete even without Antetokounmpo in the lineup.
Former Pacers center Myles Turner also had a solid night against his old team with 10 points and three blocks, though he heard boos from the Indiana crowd every time he touched the ball.
The Pacers dropped to 6-24 with the loss, their sixth straight defeat, and are on pace for the worst record in franchise history.
Milwaukee now turns its attention to a Friday night matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies as they continue their five-game road trip.
If Porter and the rest of the supporting cast can keep playing at this level, the Bucks might be able to stay afloat until their superstar is ready to return.