Giannis Antetokounmpo has criticized Tyrese Haliburton’s father because the aftermath of Bucks-Pacers playoff collection descended right into a heated confrontation.
Haliburton sealed the Pacers’ 4-1 collection victory with a lay-up in time beyond regulation that gave them a 119-118 victory on Tuesday night time. Within the ensuing celebrations, Antetokounmpo says Haliburton’s father, John, approached him and waved a towel whereas shouting “that is what we fucking do.”
“I imagine in being humble in victory,” Antetokounmpo mentioned after the sport. “Lots of people on the market which can be like, no, while you win the sport, you discuss shit and it’s a inexperienced mild so that you can be disrespectful in direction of any person else. I disagree.”
Haliburton was sad together with his father too.
“I don’t agree with what transpired there from him,” Haliburton mentioned. “Basketball is basketball and let’s preserve it on the court docket. I believe he simply bought excited, noticed his son make a recreation winner and got here on the court docket, however we had a dialog.
“He wants to only enable me to play basketball and keep over there and I’ll come to him to rejoice. However the feelings of the sport bought excited there. I talked with him. I’ll discuss with Giannis. I don’t suppose my pops was in the suitable in any respect there.”
Antetokounmpo had a 30-point, 20-rebound and 13-assist triple-double because the Bucks misplaced within the first spherical of the playoffs for the third yr in a row, and for a second time in succession towards the Pacers.
John Haliburton, who has been a basketball referee, later apologized on social media for the incident.
“I sincerely apologize to Giannis, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Pacers group for my actions following tonight’s recreation,” he wrote. “This was not an excellent reflection on our sport or my son and I cannot make that mistake once more.”
Antetokounmpo was additionally concerned in a fracas with the Pacers’ Bennedict Mathurin after the sport. The 2 initially embraced earlier than Antetokounmpo put his hand on Mathurin’s neck and the 2 began shoving one another.
In Tuesday night time’s different video games, Jamal Murray erupted for 43 factors and Russell Westbrook chipped in 21 in his return from harm, sparking the Nuggets’ 131-115 win over the Los Angeles Clippers that gave Denver a 3-2 lead of their collection. The Nuggets additionally bought 23 from Sport 4 hero Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokić’s twenty first profession playoff triple-double of 18 factors, 10 rebounds and 12 assists.
Elsewhere, Cade Cunningham had 24 factors, eight rebounds and eight assists, and Detroit stayed alive of their first postseason look since 2019 by beating New York in Sport 5 of their first-round collection. Ausar Thompson added 22 factors and Tobias Harris had 17 for the Pistons, who may have an opportunity to even issues up Thursday night time at dwelling in Sport 6. In the event that they win that, the deciding recreation could be again at Madison Sq. Backyard on Saturday.
In the meantime, Jayson Tatum had 35 factors, 10 assists and eight rebounds, and Boston pulled away after Magic star Paolo Banchero went to the bench with 5 fouls, beating Orlando in Sport 5 of their first-round playoff collection to advance to the Japanese Convention semifinals. The defending NBA champions will play both the Knicks or Pistons within the second spherical. Franz Wagner scored 25 factors, Banchero had 19 and Wendell Carter Jr. had 12 factors and 10 rebounds for the Magic, who haven’t received a playoff collection since Dwight Howard, Vince Carter and coach Stan Van Gundy led them to the Japanese Convention finals in 2010.
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