Of course, Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks fans were wound up by Tuesday night’s crazy finish to their Eastern Conference playoff series. The Pacers won 119-118 in overtime in a game featuring wild momentum shifts right to the finish.
John Haliburton, the father of Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, got swept up in the emotion, leaving his baseline seat to head to the court, holding up a towel featuring his son’s face in front of Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo. John Haliburton later apologized on social media.
The “Inside the NBA” crew of Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal argued about it, O’Neal arguing that Antetokounmpo’s admonishment of the elder Haliburton was whiny.
Barkley: “What’s his dad doing on the court? He’s not supposed to be on the court. He’s an idiot and if you think that, you’re an idiot, too.”
Smith: “You don’t have an entitlement because your son is playing.”
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O’Neal: “Giannis said something to him.”
Doyel: This should be Tyrese Haliburton’s night. Instead, we’re talking about his dad
After hearing from Antetokounmpo postgame, the discussion continued.
O’Neal: “I don’t care. It comes with the territory,” saying Antetokounmpo should have ignored John Haliburton. “I played 19 years; it happened plenty of times.”
Barkley: “If Giannis had whooped his ass, Giannis would be in trouble. No fan should come on the court and harass a player.”
Smith: “Because you pay for a ticket, it doesn’t entitle you to be on the court.”
O’Neal: “Doesn’t matter. It comes with the territory. … Don’t be a punk and whine about it.”
Barkley: “If the Cavaliers beat them, and one of their family members did that to (Tyrese), (John Haliburton) would blow a gasket.”
Indiana won the series 4-1 and will play top seed Cleveland in the second round.