Down 2-0 after losing the first two games by a margin of 13.5 points, the Bucks were in desperate need of a spark. Some felt the answer was to insert Bobby Portis or Kevin Porter Jr. into the starting unit after the pair of role players shone in the first two games against the Pacers.
Instead, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers inserted Gary Trent Jr. into the starting unit for Friday’s Game 3, a shocking call considering the guard scored all of four points on 25% shooting in Game 2.
Rivers’ roll of the dice paid off in a big way. Trent Jr. would produce a playoff career-high 37 points, going 9-of-12 from three in a 117-101 victory. The veteran guard set the tone with eight first-quarter points, but his real impact came in the clutch. Trent Jr. made two huge threes in late in the fourth quarter to help the Bucks stave off a turnaround by the Pacers, who outscored the home team in the final period.
Trent Jr. matched Bucks legend Ray Allen’s record for most threes in a playoff game in franchise history.