Obi Toppin scored 21 points and T.J. McConnell added 20 as the Indiana Pacers eliminated the Milwaukee Bucks with a 120-98 victory on Thursday in Game 6 of an Eastern Conference first-round series in Indianapolis.
Toppin contributed eight rebounds and McConnell had nine assists as the sixth-seeded Pacers enjoyed a decisive 50-10 edge in bench points to record a 4-2 win in the best-of-seven series.
“Our bench has been great all season long, appreciate this guy (McConnell) for that,” Toppin said. “… Everybody on our team knows their job, and we just give 110 percent.”
Indiana advanced to the second round to face the winner of the series between the second-seeded New York Knicks and seventh-seeded Philadelphia 76ers. The Knicks hold a 3-2 advantage in that first-round series heading into Game 6 later Thursday night in Philadelphia.
Pascal Siakam scored 19 points, Tyrese Haliburton collected 17 points and 10 assists and Aaron Nesmith had 15 points to send the Pacers to their first playoff series win since 2014.
“Lot of respect to Milwaukee’s team,” Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said. “… To knock them out is difficult. It is really difficult. Congratulations to our guys. First time in 10 years our fans have had this kind of feeling.”