Bobby Portis

Without their top two scorers for the second consecutive game, the Bucks leaned on Middleton's veteran experience and Beverley's playmaking.

From Bobby Portis' ejection to disorganized transition defense, the already short-handed Bucks find themselves down 3-1 to the Pacers.

The Bucks' three best players are nursing injuries and two, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard are listed as doubtful for Game 4.

While he may not have the big numbers of a typical Sixth Man winner, Portis has proven to be a valuable, steady presence off the bench.

Without Giannis Antetokounmpo, Portis slid into the starting lineup and made his presence felt on offense, but as importantly, on defense.

Short-handed Milwaukee's margin for error was slim Wednesday, and those early miscues led to defeat.

With some unfamiliar tactics, the Bucks turned up the aggression in the final frame to seal a victory.

With no Giannis Antetokounmpo or Khris Middleton, the Bucks' All-Star point guard went to work by scoring, then by making the right play.

Is Giannis' greatness being taken for granted? His head coach seems to think so.

After the All-Star break, the Bucks have shown that they're willing to start games with a heightened aggressiveness on both ends.

Heading toward the trade deadline, Bucks GM Jon Horst doesn't have many assets at his disposal to acquire a point-of-attack defender.

Before and after the game, Jon Horst and Bucks players talked about the decision to move on from Griffin. In between, they beat the Cavs.

Yes, the Bucks are 30-13, but there have been noticeable deficiencies on both ends of the floor. Can Rivers help fix them?

While Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard rested, Middleton and Portis boosted the Bucks. "Nothing wrong with getting No. 9 involved."

"We know our identity; we're just trying to figure out what works, and we've got to be good at everything," Antetokounmpo said.

Antetokounmpo, who saw Miami's Jimmy Butler torch Bucks defenders in the last postseason, helped stifle the Heat star on Monday night.

While Sunday's game against the Lakers was only preseason, the Antetokounmpo and Lillard pairing created a lot of space to operate.

New coach Adrian Griffin introduced a different practice atmosphere. Plus, Giannis Antetokounmpo practices while Khris Middleton works out.