Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton addressed the recent decision by the team and the NBA to ban his father, John Haliburton, from attending games for the foreseeable future, following an on-court altercation with Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. The incident occurred during the Pacers’ series-clinching victory over the Bucks in the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs, a 121-118 overtime win in Game 5 on April 29 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, per NBA.com. Speaking to the media, per IndyStar’s Tony East, Haliburton said, “I understand the decision made by our organization and the league. I’ve spoken on it many times that my father was in the wrong, but at the end of the day, it’s my dad. So I’m not going to ridicule him by any means. I love him dearly. He’s gonna sit at home and watch the games, and he’ll be just fine.”
The altercation took place in the fourth quarter of Game 5, when John Haliburton, seated courtside, waved a towel featuring his son’s face in front of Antetokounmpo while taunting him, an act the Bucks star later called “very disrespectful” in his post-game press conference, per The Athletic’s Eric Nehm. Antetokounmpo, who had 34 points and 12 rebounds in the loss, per ESPN, was visibly agitated, and security intervened to de-escalate the situation, per Fox Sports. Tyrese Haliburton acknowledged his father’s mistake, echoing Antetokounmpo’s sentiment, and John issued a public apology through the Pacers’ PR team on April 30, saying, “I deeply regret my actions and the disrespect shown to Giannis and the Bucks. It was a lapse in judgment, and I’m sorry,” per Pacers.com. The Pacers, eager to move forward, are now focusing on their Eastern Conference semifinals matchup against the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers, with Game 1 set for Sunday, May 4, at Rocket Arena, per cleveland.com.
Haliburton, reflecting on the incident, emphasized resilience, stating, “This is just one thing, and we’re not defined by one thing that happens in our life. Same thing, I’m not. We all make mistakes, and we move on.” He also noted that his father would remain engaged from afar, adding with a smile, “I’m sure I’ll be getting texts at halftime and calls after the game. It is what it is.” The 25-year-old point guard, who earned All-NBA Third Team honors in 2023, per NBA.com, was instrumental in the Bucks series, averaging 21.5 points, 10.4 assists, and 5.2 rebounds across the five games, per StatMuse. His clutch performance in Game 5—scoring six points in the final minute of regulation to force overtime, including a game-tying three-pointer with 8.7 seconds left, followed by two driving layups in OT to seal the win, per ESPN’s Jamal Collier—propelled the Pacers to their second straight year eliminating Milwaukee.
The Pacers’ victory over the Bucks, who finished the series with a 1-4 record, was aided by Damian Lillard’s absence due to an Achilles injury sustained in Game 3, which sidelined him for the final two games, per Bucks.com. Lillard’s injury, which limited him to 24.3 points per game on 42% shooting in the series, per Basketball-Reference, removed much of the suspense from the matchup, though the Pacers deserve credit for capitalizing, finishing with a 116.5 offensive rating, ninth in the playoffs, per NBA.com. Now, they face a tougher challenge against the Cavaliers, who swept the Miami Heat 4-0 in the first round despite missing Darius Garland for two games due to a sprained ankle, per Cavaliers.com. Cleveland’s depth was on display, with Donovan Mitchell averaging 28.7 points and Evan Mobley anchoring the defense with 3.2 blocks per game, per ESPN.
For the Pacers to advance, Haliburton will need to maintain his composure and leverage the team’s depth, which includes Pascal Siakam (21.6 points per game in the first round) and Myles Turner (15.8 points, 7.4 rebounds), per NBA.com. Cleveland’s coach Kenny Atkinson challenged his frontcourt, particularly Jarrett Allen, to dominate the glass against Indiana, per cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor, while Mitchell revealed the Cavs’ preparation focused on slowing Haliburton’s playmaking, per the same source. The Pacers’ 118.0 offensive rating in the first round was strong, but their half-court defense, which improved to 14th in the league (middle of the pack) after January 2025, will be tested by Cleveland’s league-best half-court offense (136.2 offensive rating), per NBC Sports.
As Indiana shifts focus to the Cavaliers, Haliburton remains the key. His ability to deliver in big moments, as shown against Milwaukee, will be crucial against a deeper, healthier Cleveland squad. While John Haliburton watches from home, his son aims to lead the Pacers on an unexpected deep playoff run for the second consecutive year, potentially stretching their season longer than anticipated in a challenging Eastern Conference.
