The Indiana Pacers edged out the Milwaukee Bucks 119-118 in a thriller at Gainbridge Fieldhouse , with Tyrese Haliburton delivering the knockout blow on a gutsy iso play over Giannis Antetokounmpo . During the game, tension escalated as Antetokounmpo and Haliburton’s father engaged in a courtside verbal confrontation. The camera quickly caught the moment, and fans online created a huge buzz over the incident. So, here’s what really went down in the confrontation.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Tyrese Haliburton’s father had a heated verbal exchange
As the final buzzer sounded, Giannis Antetokounmpo stood stunned inside the Pacers' three-point line, his hands on his hips, processing a gut-wrenching collapse in the final seconds of overtime. In that moment stepped John Haliburton , waving a flag with his son's image before walking directly toward the two-time MVP.
According to NBA TV footage and The Athletic, Antetokounmpo was initially caught off guard. “Losing a game, emotions run high,” Giannis later explained. “Having a fan — in the moment, I thought he was a fan, but then I realized it was Tyrese’s dad, which I love Tyrese, he’s a great competitor — coming on the floor and showing me his towel. [John said], ‘This is what we do, this is what we f------ do.’ I feel like that is very, very disrespectful.”
The moment quickly escalated. Bucks veteran Pat Connaughton intervened as tensions boiled over, and shortly after, Giannis pressed his forehead into John Haliburton’s in a heated exchange. Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin also got involved, prompting Giannis to briefly put his hands on him. Mathurin’s teammate Obi Toppin sprinted over in an attempt to de-escalate, as players from both teams surrounded the scene.
Eventually, the tension cooled down. Giannis walked away flashing a peace sign, and even shared a short embrace with Mathurin. But the incident left a stain on what should have been a celebratory night for the Pacers.
Tyrese Haliburton, who wasn’t aware of the clash until after the game, was visibly disappointed when shown the footage. “Me and my pops have talked about that and I don’t agree with, you know, what transpired there from him,” Haliburton told reporters postgame. “Basketball is basketball and let’s keep it on the court. I think he just got excited, saw his son make the game winner and came on the court… I don’t think my pops was in the right at all there.”
The elder Haliburton’s actions have stirred up strong reactions across social media, with fans and analysts alike debating the line between family support and crossing boundaries.
Also Read: NBA Playoffs: Giannis Antetokounmpo's valiant effort falls just short as Milwaukee Bucks lose Game 5 to Indiana Pacers by one point
For Antetokounmpo, the frustration was understandable as he added a stunning 31 points, game-high 20 rebounds, and 13 assists, but the Bucks fell short by one point of the win. Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 26 points, and the team now leads the series 4-1.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Tyrese Haliburton’s father had a heated verbal exchange
As the final buzzer sounded, Giannis Antetokounmpo stood stunned inside the Pacers' three-point line, his hands on his hips, processing a gut-wrenching collapse in the final seconds of overtime. In that moment stepped John Haliburton , waving a flag with his son's image before walking directly toward the two-time MVP.
According to NBA TV footage and The Athletic, Antetokounmpo was initially caught off guard. “Losing a game, emotions run high,” Giannis later explained. “Having a fan — in the moment, I thought he was a fan, but then I realized it was Tyrese’s dad, which I love Tyrese, he’s a great competitor — coming on the floor and showing me his towel. [John said], ‘This is what we do, this is what we f------ do.’ I feel like that is very, very disrespectful.”
The moment quickly escalated. Bucks veteran Pat Connaughton intervened as tensions boiled over, and shortly after, Giannis pressed his forehead into John Haliburton’s in a heated exchange. Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin also got involved, prompting Giannis to briefly put his hands on him. Mathurin’s teammate Obi Toppin sprinted over in an attempt to de-escalate, as players from both teams surrounded the scene.
Eventually, the tension cooled down. Giannis walked away flashing a peace sign, and even shared a short embrace with Mathurin. But the incident left a stain on what should have been a celebratory night for the Pacers.
Tyrese Haliburton, who wasn’t aware of the clash until after the game, was visibly disappointed when shown the footage. “Me and my pops have talked about that and I don’t agree with, you know, what transpired there from him,” Haliburton told reporters postgame. “Basketball is basketball and let’s keep it on the court. I think he just got excited, saw his son make the game winner and came on the court… I don’t think my pops was in the right at all there.”
The elder Haliburton’s actions have stirred up strong reactions across social media, with fans and analysts alike debating the line between family support and crossing boundaries.
Also Read: NBA Playoffs: Giannis Antetokounmpo's valiant effort falls just short as Milwaukee Bucks lose Game 5 to Indiana Pacers by one point
For Antetokounmpo, the frustration was understandable as he added a stunning 31 points, game-high 20 rebounds, and 13 assists, but the Bucks fell short by one point of the win. Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 26 points, and the team now leads the series 4-1.
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