NBA Notes: Cavs, Kenny Atkinson, Pacers, Tyrese Haliburton, Bucks

Cavaliers

The Cavaliers had their 12-game winning streak snapped by the Pacers on Sunday, with Indiana rallying to outscore Cleveland 68-40 in the second half.

Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson expressed disappointment in his team’s inability to maintain their strong defense, especially after a stellar first half.

“What disappointed me was our first half was phenomenal, defensively, and then the second half, we fell off,” Atkinson said. “We couldn’t sustain our defense. Just disappointed.”

Cleveland’s strong start was overshadowed by a lack of energy and execution in the second half, raising some minor concerns for the team moving forward.

While the Cavaliers remain a contender, this loss serves as a reminder that even top teams can struggle to close out games consistently.

• Atkinson also cited the Pacers’ pressure as a reason the Cavs struggled. “We did not handle their pressure well,” he said. “And that kind of bleeds into your defense, right? You start turning it over, you’re not taking good shots, and they’re an elite transition team. … Their pressure was a big part of their success tonight.”

Pacers

Star guard Tyrese Haliburton is now listed as doubtful for the Pacers’ rematch with the Cavs on Tuesday.

Haliburton left Sunday’s game with left hamstring tightness and did not return for the second half. His potential absence obviously would be a significant blow to the Pacers. That said, they trailed the Cavs by 13 at halftime, when Haliburton was ruled out.

Bucks

The Bucks were pummeled by the New York Knicks 140-106 on Sunday, and the result has left franchise player Giannis Antetokounmpo frustrated.

The Bucks are now 0-8 against the top three teams in the Eastern Conference, including losses to Boston, Cleveland, and New York.

“We’ve gotta get our stuff together. It’s as simple as that,” Antetokounmpo told reporters. “We did not beat Boston. We did not beat the Cavs. We didn’t beat the Knicks.”

Antetokounmpo’s frustration is palpable, as Milwaukee struggles to measure up to the East’s elite, and his comments highlight the urgency for the team to find solutions before the postseason.