Issues had been extraordinarily heated on the court docket at Gainbridge Fieldhouse after the ultimate buzzer sounded on Tuesday evening.
Giannis Antetokounmpo acquired into it with Pacers guard Ben Mathurin at heart court docket, which led to a scuffle that required the 2 males being separated, after which he acquired into an emotional alternate with Tyrese Haliburton’s dad after the Milwaukee Bucks’ season-ending loss to Indiana.
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Antetokounmpo and John Haliburton met on the court docket after the Pacers’ 119-118 time beyond regulation win over the Bucks on Tuesday. The 2 shook arms in a crowd of individuals, however instantly went forehead-to-forehead and began exchanging phrases. Ultimately, the 2 had been separated and parted methods. Giannis gave the elder Haliburton a thumbs up as he did so.
It’s unclear what was mentioned, or if there was any problem between the 2 males, however the dialog was clearly an emotional one.
Antetokounmpo met the youthful Haliburton and Pacers coach Rick Carlisle on the court docket after the sport, too, and didn’t appear too upset by the end result within the rapid aftermath.
Earlier than that, although, Antetokounmpo and Mathurin acquired into it at heart court docket. It is unclear what initiated the incident, but it surely seemed like Mathurin mentioned one thing to Antetokounmpo after which grabbed him after a hug.
Haliburton flew previous Antetokounmpo and expertly made it to the rim to hit a game-winning layup with lower than two seconds left on the clock in time beyond regulation. That was sufficient to push the Pacers to the one-point win and formally shut out the sequence.
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Antetokounmpo completed with an enormous triple-double within the loss. He had 30 factors, 20 rebounds and 13 assists for the Bucks. Gary Trent Jr. led the best way with 33 factors, and A.J. Inexperienced — who entered the beginning lineup for the injured Damian Lillard — added 19 factors.
Haliburton had 26 factors and 9 assists within the win for the Pacers regardless of taking pictures 2-of-10 from behind the arc. Myles Turner added 21 factors, and Aaron Nesmith completed with 19 factors and 12 rebounds. The Pacers will now tackle the Cleveland Cavaliers, who swept the Miami Warmth of their opening-round sequence, within the Jap Convention semifinals.
Although it’s not clear what to make of that alternate, it may very well be the ultimate second of the Antetokounmpo period in Milwaukee because the franchise heads to a important offseason. Antetokounmpo has spent all 12 seasons of his NBA profession with the Bucks, and he led them to a championship in 2021, however the crew has been knocked out of the playoffs within the first spherical in three straight seasons now.
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Many count on that Antetokounmpo shall be traded this offseason to get someplace that he can win a championship once more. The Bucks don’t have any first spherical picks on this upcoming draft, haven’t got a strong younger roster round him to work with and fellow star recovering from a torn left Achilles he suffered earlier within the sequence. Whether or not that occurs, and the place the two-time MVP finally ends up if it does, stays to be seen.
Both approach, the top to Tuesday evening’s sport — each earlier than the ultimate buzzer sounded and as Antetokounmpo made his approach off the court docket — wasn’t nice for the Bucks.
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