John Haliburton made his triumphant return to the NBA Playoffs on Tuesday night in Indianapolis, although he wasn’t in his usual court-side seat to see his son Tyrese’s Indiana Pacers host the New York Knicks in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
The elder Haliburton was forced to watch Indiana’s previous eight postseason games from afar after he ran onto the court and confronted Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo following his son’s last-second shot to eliminate Milwaukee for the second straight year, this time in five games.
Shortly after that game ended, Tyrese Haliburton acknowledged his father did the wrong thing and the elder Haliburton apologized on social media for his overexuberance: ‘I sincerely apologize to Giannis, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Pacers organization for my actions following tonight’s game. This was not a good reflection on our sport or my son and I will not make that mistake again.’
The Pacers said Monday that John Haliburton would be allowed to return for Game 4. Coach Rick Carlisle thought his return was overdue.
“Glad he’s back,” Carlisle said during his pregame news conference. “You know a father should be able to watch his son play basketball, so we welcome him back.”
Tyrese didn’t get any pregame hugs or handshakes from his father, or at least not on the court. But the fact that the elder Haliburton was back in the arena – albeit in an upstairs suite instead of a courtside seat – still felt like a win for the two-time All-Star and the Pacers.
John Halliburton, father of Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, raises his hands from a suite before Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday night in Indianapolis
Antetokounmpo got into a confrontation with Tyrese Haliburton’s dad, John, on Tuesday night
Tyrese Haliburton’s father, John Haliburton, has spoken out on his on-court clash with Giannis
And Tyrese put on an early show, finishing the first quarter with 15 points, six assists and five rebounds while staking the Pacers to a 43-35 lead over the Knicks. He was 4 of 5 from the field, making all three of his 3-pointers and all four of his free throws.
Carlisle wasn’t the only Pacer to be happy to see John back in the building. Starting center Myles Turner said Monday after practice he thought it was important fathers get to watch their sons in person – especially in a conference final.
Apparently, the Pacers and league officials felt the same way, even though the younger Haliburton never complained publicly about the punishment.
Instead, Tyrese Haliburton said he understood the decision while explaining his father’s excitement was more about being proud rather than any malicious intent.
That’s been evident throughout Indianapolis both before and since the incident, as John Haliburton has become a familiar face at local watering holes celebrating the success of his son and the Pacers, who entered Tuesday with a 2-1 series lead.
