<p>INDIANAPOLIS — All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo had 40 points, 15 rebounds and six assists and the Milwaukee Bucks wore down the short-handed Indiana Pacers in a 142-133 victory Thursday night.</p>
<p>Indiana dressed just 10 players due to injuries and didn’t have a defensive answer for Antetokounmpo, the two-time NBA MVP who made 14 of 18 shots from the field — six on uncontested dunks — and hit 11 of 16 free throws. </p>
<p>The Bucks moved within a game of the Brooklyn Nets for the Eastern Conference’s No. 2 playoff seed.</p>
<p>Khris Middleton added 22 points, Brook Lopez had 21, and Jrue Holiday finished with 20 points and 14 assists.</p>
<p>Antetokounmpo scored 11 points in the pivotal third quarter, when the Bucks outscored the Pacers 40-30 to build a 13-point lead.</p>
<p>Four of the seven ruled-out Pacers were starters, then All-Star forward Domantas Sabonis came out after tweaking his left knee in the third quarter. Sabonis had 10 points, 14 assists and six rebounds when he sat down.</p>
<p>Despite the lack of bodies, Indiana kept pace for a half with 3-pointers. Justin Holiday hit six in the first quarter as the home team took a 39-38 lead into the break. He didn’t hit one in the second quarter, but the Pacers had 13 3s by halftime and trailed just 69-66.</p>
<p>Holiday led the Pacers with 26 points. T.J. McConnell added 23, and Doug McDermott and Oshae Brissett each had 19.</p>
<p>TIP-INS</p>
<p>Bucks: Made 23 of 31 free throws while the Pacers converted 12 of 15. Milwaukee was whistled for just 10 fouls to the Pacers’ 22.</p>
<p>Pacers: McConnell, who started for the injured Malcolm Brogdon, suffered a sprained left thumb and missed about the last four minutes of the second quarter. He had his left hand wrapped to start the second half. … Clinched a play-in berth Tuesday and are a half-game ahead of Washington for the ninth seed.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Bucks: Host Miami on Saturday night.</p>
<p>Pacers: Host Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday.</p>
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