Jamal Collier
INDIANAPOLIS — Myles Turner was disheartened to be met with boos in his return to Indiana, however the Milwaukee Bucks had the final phrase with a 117-115 victory on a buzzer-beating bounce shot from Giannis Antetokounmpo.
After the shot, Antetokounmpo gave those self same Pacers followers a thumbs down earlier than shushing them as he walked off the court docket.
The Pacers performed a tribute video for Turner on the scoreboard earlier than the beginning of the sport, and it was met with resounding boos from the gang at Gainbridge Fieldhouse from the second it hit the display.
“It was disheartening, man. It was irritating,” Turner stated after the sport. “You give 10 years of your life, your blood, your sweat, your tears. You’re taking pay cuts. You survive commerce rumors. You attempt to do all the things the proper approach, after which generally stuff shakes out. It’s cool. I take it on the chin.”
But, Antetokounmpo stated it was vital for Turner’s new Bucks teammates to win this sport for him.
“He won’t say it, but it surely form of harm,” stated Antetokounmpo, who completed with 33 factors, 13 rebounds and 5 assists. “However we’re right here to select him up, inform him how a lot we love him and respect him. We perceive how a lot he gave for the staff, for Indiana, and the way a lot he is keen to offer for Milwaukee. He is an amazing, nice individual, nice character, an amazing competitor. I performed towards him for 10 years. I believe he gave all the things.”
Turner added: “The blokes instructed me a pair days in the past earlier than this even began, ‘We bought you. We bought you.'” There’s clearly an enormous rivalry between these two groups, and I wasn’t the one motive they wished to win the sport, however an enormous motive.”
As the gang booed by means of his tribute video, Turner leaned in to his newfound position as villain. He gestured as if to shut a e-book and gave the gang a halfhearted and sarcastic wave on the finish of the video.
Then when the sport began, Turner stated he channeled the boos into vitality within the first quarter. He scored seven factors, pulling down two 3-pointers — booing the gang again after certainly one of them — and blocked 4 pictures within the opening interval alone.
“It woke me up,” stated Turner, who completed with 9 factors and 5 blocks. “If something, you need to channel that vitality. That unfavourable vitality changed into a constructive. I do know what it’s each time I come again right here to Gainbridge.”
However the boos continued past the tribute video.
Each time Turner touched the ball, the gang responded with their displeasure. They cheered when he dedicated an offensive foul or turnover. The scoreboard confirmed graphics evaluating Turner to Isaiah Jackson, the staff’s new beginning middle, who scored 21 factors and grabbed 10 rebounds, producing greater than Turner in each classes.
“I used to be actually disenchanted tonight,” Bucks coach Doc Rivers stated after the sport. “This man offers you 10 years… I need to make one thing clear. Myles wasn’t trying to depart. Myles was made out there. It is a large distinction.”
Turner spent 10 seasons with the Pacers earlier than signing a four-year, $107 million cope with the Bucks as an unrestricted free agent this offseason. He stated after shootaround Monday morning that he felt like he had the rug pulled from beneath him as a result of Indiana didn’t make him a contract provide akin to what Milwaukee was providing.
In the meantime, the Pacers have insisted they by no means bought an opportunity to match Milwaukee’s provide to Turner earlier than he walked in free company.
“Let’s discuss worth, go the place you are valued,” Turner stated Monday morning. “The entrance workplace and the possession valued me in Milwaukee greater than possession and entrance workplace valued me right here in Indiana.”
After the sport ended, Turner caught round on the court docket and embraced a number of of his teammates, together with Aaron Nesmith, Bennedict Mathurin and Jackson, who known as Turner “an enormous brother” after the sport.
“Earlier than the sport, I went again to the locker room, stated, what’s up?” Turner stated.
“Once I was right here, I’ve had the identical energy coach, similar medical employees, similar tools managers since my rookie yr. So, I wished to verify I went again there and confirmed like to all my folks, all my guys within the group. No matter how the fan feels, I believe I took care of all of the people who took care of me.”