Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton was caught up in the excitement of his team’s unexpected overtime comeback against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night. In the heat of the moment, he didn’t notice what caused the tense scuffle between players after the game.

It wasn’t until he got back to the locker room and watched the replay that he realized what had happened — and he winced when he saw his own father, John Haliburton, on the court, confronting Giannis Antetokounmpo, the two-time NBA MVP.

“I had no idea it happened until I got back to the locker room and they showed me the video of my pops,” the two-time All-Star said after he made the decisive layup with 1.3 seconds left to give Indiana a 119-118 victory and a 4-1 series win.

“We had a little talk about it. I don’t agree with what transpired there. I think basketball is basketball and let’s keep it on the court. I think he just got excited.”

Antetokounmpo wasn’t pleased, either, after his team blew a seven-point lead in the final 40 seconds of overtime, sending the Bucks to their third straight first-round exit.

The two-time MVP didn’t recognize John Haliburton, thinking he was just another fan who had run onto the court.

Antetokounmpo gets into fracas with Indiana Pacers Photo Courtesy: AP Sports

Antetokounmpo said he likes Haliburton, calling him a great competitor, but he said John Haliburton displaying a towel with his son’s image while yelling “this is what we (expletive) do” was wrong.

THIS LEAGUE!!!!Giannis having a word with Tyrese Haliburtons dad after the gamepic.twitter.com/fQp4jx2H4x— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) April 30, 2025