Pacers’ Shocking Victory Overshadowed by ‘Disrespectful’ Dad Controversy—What Really Happened?
Every now and then, a postseason moment stirs more than just the scoreboard — it ignites raw emotions and sparks unforeseen confrontations. That’s exactly what unfolded when Milwaukee Bucks’ powerhouse Giannis Antetokounmpo found himself in the middle of a fiery exchange — not with a rival player, but with Tyrese Haliburton’s father. Following Indiana Pacers’ razor-thin 119-118 victory that punched their ticket to the NBA semi-finals, Haliburton’s clutch lay-up with 1.3 seconds left wasn’t just the dagger for the Bucks’ championship dreams; it also set off a scene off the hardwood that raised some eyebrows. Giannis, never one to shy from speaking his mind, called out what he saw as a “disrespectful” act during the postgame celebration — a move that drew attention not just for the basketball, but for the boundaries crossed beyond the court. Meanwhile, Haliburton, caught off guard by his dad’s antics, has stepped up to squash the tension with an apology and a reminder that some battles belong strictly on the parquet floor. There’s plenty more in this playoff saga as the Bucks’ hopes hang by a thread and other contenders, like the Celtics and Nuggets, carve their path forward.
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Sean Kearns
BBC Sport
2 hours ago
“Your best player picks up his fifth foul in the third quarter. It’s tough to come back from that moment.”Haliburton, who says he was unaware of his father’s actions at the time, has apologised to Antetokounmpo.”Basketball is basketball. Let’s keep it on the court. I think he just got excited.”The Celtics will face either the New York Knicks or the Detroit Pistons in the next round. The fan, it transpired, was Haliburton’s father.”At that moment I thought it was a fan, but then I realised it was Tyrese’s dad. The Pistons kept their play-off hopes alive with a 106-103 win in game five to trail 3-2 in their best-of-seven series.”It definitely swung the series. It definitely swung the game,” Mosley said. “I believe in being humble in victory,” said Antetokounmpo. “I love Tyrese – he’s a great competitor. His dad coming on the floor and showing me a towel with his [son’s] face on it, [saying] ‘This is what we do. We do this.’ I feel like that’s very, very disrespectful.””We had a little talk about it. I don’t agree with what transpired there.Getty Images
Milwaukee Bucks power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo criticised Tyrese Haliburton’s “disrespectful” father after the pair were involved in a heated exchange following the Indiana Pacers’ series-clinching win.Elsewhere, the Denver Nuggets took a 3-2 series lead with a 131-115 win over the LA Clippers in game five.The game turned in the third quarter when Magic forward Paolo Banchero was forced to sit out following his fifth foul, when the Magic held a four-point lead.Haliburton hit the go-ahead lay-up with 1.3 seconds left on the clock as the Pacers sealed a 4-1 series win and following the buzzer supporters entered the court to celebrate.
Celtics cruise into semi-finals
“All I saw is Paolo getting an elbow to the face or back into the face, and he got the foul. That was a game-changer right there. Haliburton’s winning lay-up was the end of an uninterrupted eight-point run which swung the game in the Pacers’ favour. Jayson Tatum top scored with 35 points, as well as 10 assists and eight rebounds.Getty Images
Antetokounmpo, a two-time NBA most valuable player, was approached by what he thought was a Pacers fan, who taunted him with a towel that had Haliburton’s face on it.They held a seven-point lead with 40 seconds remaining in game five but the Pacers forced two crucial turnovers in the final 17 seconds. They will face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the semi-finals.”I had no idea it happened until I got back to the locker room and they showed me the video of my pops,” said Haliburton.The winners of the tie will face the Oklahoma City Thunder in the next round. The Pacers booked their spot in the NBA play-off semi-finals with a 119-118 win against the Bucks.
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