'disrespectful' Dad Criticised As Pacers Beat Bucks

Milwaukee Bucks powerfulness guardant Giannis Antetokounmpo criticised Tyrese Haliburton's "disrespectful" begetter aft nan brace were progressive successful a heated speech pursuing nan Indiana Pacers' series-clinching win.

The Pacers booked their spot successful nan NBA play-off semi-finals pinch a 119-118 triumph against nan Bucks.

Haliburton deed nan go-ahead lay-up pinch 1.3 seconds near connected nan timepiece arsenic nan Pacers sealed a 4-1 bid triumph and pursuing nan buzzer supporters entered nan tribunal to celebrate.

Antetokounmpo, a two-time NBA astir valuable player, was approached by what he thought was a Pacers fan, who taunted him pinch a towel that had Haliburton's look connected it.

The fan, it transpired, was Haliburton's father.

"I judge successful being humble successful victory," said Antetokounmpo.

"At that infinitesimal I thought it was a fan, but past I realised it was Tyrese's dad.

"I emotion Tyrese - he's a awesome competitor. His dada coming connected nan level and showing maine a towel pinch his [son's] look connected it, [saying] 'This is what we do. We do this.' I consciousness for illustration that's very, very disrespectful."

Haliburton, who says he was unaware of his father's actions astatine nan time, has apologised to Antetokounmpo.

"I had nary thought it happened until I sewage backmost to nan locker room and they showed maine nan video of my pops," said Haliburton.

"We had a small talk astir it. I don't work together pinch what transpired there.

"Basketball is basketball. Let's support it connected nan court. I deliberation he conscionable sewage excited."

The conclusion intends nan Bucks' hopes of a first Championship since 2021 are over.

They held a seven-point lead pinch 40 seconds remaining successful crippled 5 but nan Pacers forced 2 important turnovers successful nan last 17 seconds.

Haliburton's winning lay-up was nan extremity of an uninterrupted eight-point tally which swung nan crippled successful nan Pacers' favour.

They will look nan Cleveland Cavaliers successful nan semi-finals.

Defending champions nan Boston Celtics sealed a 4-1 bid triumph pinch a comfortable 120-89 triumph against nan Orlando Magic.

Jayson Tatum apical scored pinch 35 points, arsenic good arsenic 10 assists and 8 rebounds.

The crippled turned successful nan 3rd 4th erstwhile Magic guardant Paolo Banchero was forced to beryllium retired pursuing his 5th foul, erstwhile nan Magic held a four-point lead.

"It decidedly swung nan series. It decidedly swung nan game," Mosley said.

"All I saw is Paolo getting an elbow to nan look aliases backmost into nan face, and he sewage nan foul. That was a game-changer correct there.

"Your champion subordinate picks up his 5th foul successful nan 3rd quarter. It's reliable to travel backmost from that moment."

The Celtics will look either nan New York Knicks aliases nan Detroit Pistons successful nan adjacent round.

The Pistons kept their play-off hopes live pinch a 106-103 triumph successful crippled 5 to way 3-2 successful their best-of-seven series.

Elsewhere, nan Denver Nuggets took a 3-2 bid lead pinch a 131-115 triumph complete nan LA Clippers successful crippled five.

The winners of nan necktie will look nan Oklahoma City Thunder successful nan adjacent round.