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INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana Pacers coach Frank Vogel was worried about facing the Milwaukee Bucks in a matchup of the teams with the best and worst records in the NBA. Turns out, he had reason for concern. "If youre a team without a great record, and youve got a chance to knock off one of the top dogs, thats obviously a win that scores more points with you," Vogel said before the Pacers 101-96 comeback victory Thursday night. Roy Hibbert had 24 points and 12 rebounds, and Paul George and Lance Stephenson each scored 18 points for Indiana. The Pacers, 44-13 overall and an NBA-best 28-3 at home, blew a 17-point lead in the first half. "Theyre a real good team and I thought we did a pretty good job of keeping it close into the fourth quarter," Bucks rookie guard Nate Wolters said. "But then just like the other night we let it slip away. It wasnt real hard to get up for these guys tonight." Indianas George Hill took a nasty spill along the baseline late in the game. Vogel said the starting guard was day-to-day with a bruised left shoulder. The Bucks, an NBA-worst 11-46, tied it at 50 at the half and built a six-point lead in the third quarter. Brandon Knight had 23 points for Milwaukee, Khris Middleton added 22, O.J. Mayo had 14, and Ramon Sessions 13. Ersan Ilysova had 11 rebounds and nine points. "Were still a team thats pretty much trying to find something to hang our hat on," Mayo said. "Were a young team that is still learning and we just have to keep getting better every day. This was definitely a winnable game, but we made too many mistakes on the road against the best team in the Eastern Conference." Indiana led 32-15 early in the second quarter after going 13 of 19 from the field in the first 12 minutes. The Pacers were 8 of 19 in the second quarter, while the Bucks shot 13 of 21 after going 7 of 22 in the first. "I dont think our guys let down at all," Vogel said. "They understand a 15-point lead in the first quarter means nothing." Stephensons layup put the Pacers up 50-38 with 2:10 to play in the first half. But Middleton scored seven straight points, and Knight had the last five points of the half as the Bucks used a 12-0 run to tie it. Knight opened the second half with a 3-pointer for Milwaukees first lead, 53-50. The Bucks extended the lead to six at 60-54 before George and Stephenson hit 3-pointers to tie it. "Theyve got a lot of great shot-makers over there, thats why theyve been staying in games here lately," Hill said. The Bucks took a 64-60 lead on consecutive baskets by Nate Wolters and Zaza Pachulia, but the Pacers scored seven of the next nine points to regain the lead at 67-66. The Bucks got no closer than two points the rest of the way. "I think we got a couple stops down the stretch that we really needed, and we capitalized on the offensive end when we did get those stops," Hill said. "Youve got to tip your hat to Milwaukee; no matter what their record says, thats a good team over there." NOTES: Before the game, the Bucks waived forward Caron Butler after agreeing to a contract buyout. The 33-year-old Butler made 13 starts and appeared in 34 games this season, averaging 11.0 points and 4.6 rebounds. ... On Saturday night, Indiana is at Boston, and Milwaukee will be home against Brooklyn. Adidas Jerseys . -- Oakland Athletics starting pitchers Jarrod Parker and A. College Jerseys . Halak did not get the start in the Washington Capitals Tuesday night game against the St. https://www.cheapjerseysjustwholesale.com/ . A receiver doesnt make the catch on a passing play and instantly motions to the ref – and everybody else – for a pass interference flag. Offcial Jerseys . The closer wasnt available. The road trip, a disaster to that point. China Jerseys . Pinch-hitter Tommy Medica singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and the Padres beat the Seattle Mariners 2-1 in their first home game since Gwynn died of cancer Monday.CINCINNATI, Ohio -- That playoff loss in Pittsburgh last year? Johnny Cueto never thought about it much. So getting a chance to shut out the Pirates in a rematch wasnt any more special. Not to him, anyway. Cueto pitched his third career shutout against the team that beat him in the NL wild card game, and Joey Votto hit a two-run homer that led the Cincinnati Reds over the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 Wednesday for their first winning series this season. Cueto (1-2) had his way with the lineup that beat him 6-2 at PNC Park in the playoffs. He limited the Pirates to three hits, didnt walk a batter and struck out a career-high 12 during his first shutout since 2011. Any extra satisfaction given what happened the last time he faced them? "I never think too much about those things," Cueto said, with assistant trainer Tomas Vera interpreting. "That was 2013." And Cueto is starting to look more like a vintage ace. He started only 11 games last season because of strained muscles by his pitching shoulder. The right-hander has been solid this season but hasnt gotten much help from an offence that scored only one run while he was on the mound during his first three starts. Cueto didnt need much help on Wednesday, putting the Pirates away with 107 pitches. "Welcome back, Johnny Cueto," manager Bryan Price said. "Hes been great his first three starts, and he was dominant today. It was nice to win our first series. Pittsburgh is a handful." Several Pirates questioned called third strikes by Quinn Wolcott, a Triple-A umpire called up to the majors. Eight of Cuetos strikeouts were called. Maybe it didnt mean anything extra to Cueto, but his teammates got some satisfaction from beating the Pirates. "For us to come together the way we have, especially against the team that beat us in the playoffs, its a lot of fun," third baseman Todd Frazier said. After the NL Central rivals combined for 13 homers while splitting the first two games, Votto supplied the one that broke open the deciding game. Left-hander Francisco Liriano (0-3) opened the game by walking Billy Hamilton, wwho stole second base and came around on two wild pitches.dddddddddddd That was it for scoring until the seventh inning, when Cueto singled and Votto hit his fourth homer in six games. Brayan Pena doubled home a run in the eighth. Liriano and Cueto also were matched in the wild card game last season. Liriano got the better of that one, going seven innings for the victory while Cueto failed to make it through the fourth. Liriano had trouble at the outset on Wednesday. Ten of his first 13 pitches were balls. He walked Hamilton and Votto opening the inning, then threw the two wild pitches that let in the run. The Ohio River rivals had a bruising series last season, with 28 batters hit overall -- the most for any series in the majors. Its been mostly pain-free so far, with only two batters hit during the series. Pirates left fielder Jose Tabata left the game in the fifth inning with what appeared to be a mild concussion after he slammed into the outfield wall while catching Penas fly ball. Tabata fell, held up his glove to show hed caught the ball and sat on the warning track for several minutes. A trainer examined Tabatas neck, jaw and head, and he was helped off the field. "You talk about laying out and making a catch and hitting the wall hard," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "I was just glad he was able to walk off. Well see how it feels tomorrow." NOTES: The Pirates completed their first trip of the season at 3-6. They open a four-game series against Milwaukee on Thursday, with Edinson Volquez starting against Yovani Gallardo. ... The Reds concluded a 3-3 homestand. Theyre off on Thursday before opening a 10-game trip at Wrigley Field. Alfredo Simon starts against the Cubs Jeff Samardzija. ... Reds closer Aroldis Chapman is to throw in the bullpen for the second time on Thursday. The Reds are hoping to have him back from a head injury next month. ... Cueto was called for interference twice while trying to bunt. The first time, he ran out of the box to bunt the ball. The second time, he stood in the box and blocked catcher Tony Sanchez from fielding the bunt. ' ' '