Obi Toppin has scored 21 points, T.J. McConnell had 20 points and nine assists and hosts Indiana won a playoff series for the first time in a decade by beating Milwaukee 120-98 in Game 6.
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The Pacers will face the winner of the Philadelphia-New York series in the Eastern Conference semi-finals. The Knicks enjoy a 3-2 lead ahead of their Game 6 later on Friday (AEST) at the 76ers.
Indiana's milestone victory came exactly 30 years after they swept Orlando 3-0 to advance in the NBA playoffs for the first time in franchise history, and it came on a night the Bucks again were without Giannis Antetokounmpo. The two-time league MVP never played after straining his left calf on April 9.
Damian Lillard, meanwhile, returned from a right achilles injury and played well -- but was not nearly as dominant as he was in the first two games when he scored 69 points. He finished with 28 points on 7-of-16 shooting.
Bobby Portis Jr. added 20 points and 15 rebounds for Milwaukee, while Brook Lopez had 20 points and Khris Middleton 14 points and eight rebounds.
Two-time All-Star Tyrese Haliburton contributed 17 points, 10 assists and six rebounds for Indiana and Pascal Siakam finished with 19 points and seven boards. Toppin and McConnell each had playoff career-high scoring totals, and McConnell also had four steals.
Indiana went 8-3 against the Bucks this season and handed Milwaukee their second straight first-round exit.
The Pacers turned the game with a 23-3 first-quarter spurt that made it 29-19 and they never trailed again.
Australian Associated Press
