Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton was so enthusiastic about Indiana’s unbelievable extra time rally that he did not realise what led to the post-game scuffle between his teammates and the Milwaukee Bucks gamers after recreation 5 of the 2 groups’ first-round sequence within the NBA Playoffs.
Then he received to the locker room, watched the replay and winced when he noticed his father, John, on the courtroom, confronting two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks.
“I had no concept it occurred till I received again to the locker room they usually confirmed me the video of my pops,” the two-time All-Star stated after he made the decisive lay-up with 1.3 seconds left to offer Indiana a 119-118 victory and a 4-1 sequence win.
“We had slightly speak about it. I do not agree with what transpired there. I feel basketball is basketball and let’s hold it on the courtroom. I feel he simply received excited.”
Antetokounmpo wasn’t happy, both, after his group blew a seven-point lead within the closing 40 seconds of extra time, sending the Bucks to their third straight first-round exit. The 2-time MVP did not recognise John Haliburton, considering he was simply one other fan who had run onto the courtroom.
Antetokounmpo stated he likes Haliburton, calling him an incredible competitor, however he stated John Haliburton displaying a towel along with his son’s picture whereas yelling “that is what we (expletive) do” was unsuitable.
“I really feel like that is very, very disrespectful,” stated Antetokounmpo, who completed with 30 factors, 20 rebounds and 13 assists.
Haliburton appeared genuinely upset concerning the incident, promising to succeed in out to Antetokounmpo earlier than the groups play once more.
“I will speak to Giannis about it will definitely,” stated Haliburton, who grew up in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. “I do not assume my pops was in the appropriate in any respect there. It is unlucky what occurred on the finish there.
“It is unlucky what occurred there (the scuffle), however I feel it is simply competitors,” he added. “So far as my pops, I do not agree with what occurred there. We’ll have a dialog.”
Antetokounmpo advised a narrative concerning the Bucks’ 2020-21 championship season, when his mom attended each recreation from mid-February via the title run. The Greek famous person stated his mom wasn’t even certain whether or not she might come onto the courtroom to hug him on the finish of the ultimate recreation and famous that his members of the family usually do not sit courtside.
The Pacers and Bucks have met 20 occasions over the previous two seasons, with the Pacers profitable eight 11 Playoff video games and each post-season sequence in an more and more heated rivalry.
AP
