The Indiana Pacers are heading to the second round of the NBA playoffs after knocking off Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks in overtime yesterday. But Indiana’s victory celebration has been marred by a postgame confrontation between Giannis and the father of a rival NBA star.
As Giannis headed to the locker room after the game, he was confrontation by John Haliburton, the father of Pacers All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton. The two exchanged words and ultimately had to be separated.
Antetokounmpo would only address the situation to explain what happened. He said that John Haliburton trash-talked him after Tyrese hit the game-winning bucket and didn’t even know who it was at first.
Tyrese was embarrassed by the situation, and remarked that his father was not “in the right” for confronting Giannis like that.
Now the father has spoken out.
Taking to X, John issued a public apology to Giannis, the Bucks and the Pacers for his actions. He pledged not to make that mistake again.
“I sincerely apologize to Giannis, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Pacers organization for my actions following tonight’s game. This was not a good reflection on our sport or my son and I will not make that mistake again,” John Haliburton wrote.
I sincerely apologize to Giannis, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Pacers organization for my actions following tonight’s game. This was not a good reflection on our sport or my son and I will not make that mistake again.
— John Haliburton (@PapaHaliburton) April 30, 2025
Over the five-game series between the Pacers and Bucks, Tyrese Haliburton averaged 17.6 points and 11.6 assists per game. Game 5 might have been his best of the series as he recorded a series-high 26 points and three blocks in a 119-118 overtime win.
Tyrese Haliburton is in his fifth NBA season and his third full campaign with the Pacers. Last year he led the Pacers all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals, only to be swept by the Boston Celtics. If the Knicks can’t take care of business against the Detroit Pistons in the days to come, Haliburton and the Pacers will get a chance to avenge that sweep.
Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
But assuming the Knicks do get the job done, they have the Cleveland Cavaliers on the horizon. Cleveland just decimated the Miami Heat and are probably the most dangerous team in the entire playoffs right now.
Will the Pacers reach the Conference Finals?
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