The Milwaukee Bucks handled the Indiana Pacers 142-133 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Thursday night, and reigning back-to-back NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo did MVP things in the process.
/ Bassoonist Mark Ortwein performs the National Anthem before an Indiana Pacers game on May 11, 2021
If you went to see the Indiana Pacers play the Philadelphia 76ers this week, you witnessed an important moment in music history.
Bassoonist Mark Ortwein performed The Star-Spangled Banner before the game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
According to Ortwein s YouTube post, this was the first time that the National Anthem was performed by an electric bassoon at an NBA game.
Watch his history-making performance below.
The Pacers defeated the 76ers 103 to 94.
Ortwein is on the music faculty of the University of Indianapolis and is assistant principal bassoon of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. He s also principal bassoon of the Baroque on Beaver Festival Orchestra.
FREE NEWSLETTERS Indiana Grand Racing & Casino added a sportsbook to its Shelbyville facility. (Photo courtesy of Caesars Entertainment)
Millions of dollars in bets have been placed inside venues like Bankers Life Fieldhouse and Lucas Oil Stadium since mobile sports gambling was legalized in Indiana in 2019.
Now, teams like the Indianapolis Colts and Indiana Pacers are trying to earn some indirect revenue from sports betting, carving out areas in their facilities that cater directly to fans who want to follow their bets while taking in a game downtown.
Earlier this year, the Pacers introduced the PointsBet Hardwood Club, a sports bar constructed during the first phase of the $360 million renovations to the fieldhouse. It features dozens of tables and a massive TV screen capable of showing up to 64 games at once. One of the goals for the space, team officials say, is to give gambling-hungry fans a space of their own.
by: Ricky Dimon
May 14, 2021 / 12:00 PM EST
With three games remaining in the 2020-21 NBA regular season, the Indiana Pacers have clinched a spot in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament. They cannot move into the top six and guarantee a place in the more traditional playoff bracket, but they will at least be able to play for either the No. 7 or No. 8 seed.
Despite already knowing their fate to some extent, the Pacers still have a ton to play for over this final stretch. They desperately want to snag the eighth seed instead of ninth, because No. 8 has to win only one game during the play-in festivities either at the expense of No. 7, or over whoever wins the 9-10 game. The No. 9 and No. 10 seed must win that opening game and then also defeat the 7-8 loser. Indiana and the Charlotte Hornets are currently tied for eighth in the East at 33-36.
Pacers Miss Chance to Overtake Hornets, Lose to Bucks
The Indiana Pacers lost 142-133 in Indiana to the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday night.
Author:
May 13, 2021
INDIANAPOLIS The Indiana Pacers (33-37) fell to the Milwaukee Bucks (45-25) 142-133 on Thursday evening at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indiana.
The loss ends a two-game winning streak the Pacers had going for themselves this week with wins over the Cavs and 76ers.
Heading into the game, the Pacers had already clinched a spot in the NBA s Play-In Tournament and sat as the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference.
However, heading into the game, they had the same record as the Charlotte Hornets, who lost 113-90 at home to the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday.