Bobby Portis let the Milwaukee Bucks down on Sunday by getting himself ejected in the first quarter of their Game 4 showdown against the Indiana Pacers.
Apr 28, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis (9) is ejected during game four of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
With Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard both sidelined, the Bucks needed a big game for Portis. He failed to deliver on this after being forced to take an early shower just seven minutes into the contest.
Milwaukee Bucks News: Doc Rivers Reacts to Bobby Portis Ejection
After the game, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers admitted that he didn’t see the incident that led to Portis’ ejection. As such, the veteran shot-called could not comment on the nature of the altercation. However, what Rivers was adamant about is the fact that Portis’ ejection was a major turning point in the game:
“It was a tough break for us, no doubt about it,” Rivers said, via Eric Nehm of The Athletic. “Doesn’t matter how long you’re in the league, you can still learn. All of us can. I thought it will probably be a lesson for Bobby and for all of us, for our young guys. Playoff games are high emotions. They really are. So, that happened and you can’t get it back once it happened.”
This is Rivers passive-aggressively saying that this is exactly what you’re not supposed to do in a postseason game with such high stakes. As he said, he wants Portis to learn his lesson from this major mistake, and Coach Doc also wants his young players to see this as an example of how not to act in such situations.
Mar 24, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
True enough, with Giannis, Lillard, and Portis out of the picture, the Bucks struggled to keep up the pace with the Pacers. Khris Middleton did all he could (25 points, 10 rebounds, five assists), and the three-time All-Star even played through a foot/leg injury that forced him to the locker room early in the third quarter.
Milwaukee just couldn’t get over the hump, though, as the Pacers cruised to a 126-113 victory. Indiana will now head to the Fiserv Forum for Game 5 with the intention of closing this series out.
Apr 26, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Milwaukee forward Khris Middleton (22) shoots the ball while Indiana forward Pascal Siakam (43) defends during game three of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
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