Tyrese Haliburton scolds his father for sparking postgame fracas after Pacers eliminate Bucks

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton was so excited about Indiana's improbable overtime rally that he didn't realize what led to the postgame scuffle between his teammates and the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night.

Then he got to the locker room, watched the replay and winced when he saw his father, John, on the court, confronting two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“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 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.

“I feel like that’s very, very disrespectful,” said Antetokounmpo, who finished with 30 points, 20 rebounds and 13 assists.

Haliburton seemed genuinely upset about the incident, promising to reach out to Antetokounmpo before the teams play again.

“I’ll talk to Giannis about it eventually,” said Haliburton, who grew up in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. “I don’t think my pops was in the right at all there. It’s unfortunate what happened at the end there.

“It’s unfortunate what happened there (the scuffle), but I think it’s just competition,” he added. “As far as my pops, I don’t agree with what happened there. We’ll have a conversation.”

Antetokounmpo told a story about the Bucks' 2020-21 championship season, when his mother attended every game from mid-February through the title run. The Greek superstar said his mom wasn't even sure whether she could come onto the court to hug him at the end of the final game and noted that his family members typically don't sit courtside.

The Pacers and Bucks have met 20 times over the past two seasons, with the Pacers winning eight 11 playoff games and both postseason series in an increasingly heated rivalry.

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Indiana Pacers teammates Aaron Nesmith, left, Pascal Siakam, center, and Myles Turner, right, celebrate the team's win after overtime in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series as Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. (3) walks off the court in Indianapolis, Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) celebrates the team's win after overtime in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Milwaukee Bucks in Indianapolis, Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) shoots the game winning basket over Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, left, and guard Gary Trent Jr., right, during overtime in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Indianapolis, Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) hugs his father John Haliburton following Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Milwaukee Bucks, Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, left, is separated from Indiana Pacers players forward Obi Toppin, second from right, and guard Bennedict Mathurin, right, after Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Indianapolis, Tuesday, April 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

TORONTO (AP) — Tyrese Maxey scored 33 points, Joel Embiid had 27 and the Philadelphia 76ers used an 80-point first half to beat the Toronto Raptors 115-102 on Monday night.

VJ Edgecombe and Paul George each scored 15 points as the 76ers bounced back from Sunday’s overtime loss to Toronto to win for the sixth time in eight games.

Embiid (left knee and left groin) and George (left knee) were back in the lineup after sitting out Sunday.

Fans chanted “We want Lowry!” in the fourth quarter, then rose for a standing ovation when former Raptors player Kyle Lowry checked in for Maxey with 1:57 left to play.

Lowry starred for the Toronto team that won the 2019 NBA championship. He airballed a 3-pointer on his first attempt and missed all three shots he took.

Immanuel Quickley scored 18 points and Brandon Ingram had 17 points and 10 rebounds. Scottie Barnes scored 15 points for Toronto.

Barnes, who hit the game-winning free throw Sunday, was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week earlier Monday.

Philadelphia’s 80 first-half points were the most by a Raptors opponent this season. The 76ers made 27 of 37 field goals in the opening half, including 13 of 20 from long range, and shot 13 for 13 at the free throw line.

Maxey scored 18 points in the first to help Philadelphia build a 45-28 lead after one. He connected on six of seven attempts, including three of four from distance.

After shooting 8 for 31 from long range Sunday, the 76ers combined to make 7 of 8 3-pointers in the first. They followed that by making four straight to begin the second.

Ingram returned after missing two games because of a sore right thumb. RJ Barrett (left thumb) sat for the second straight game.

Philadelphia’s biggest lead was 33 points, 87-54, after an Edgecombe 3 with 8:24 remaining in the third.

76ers: Host Cleveland on Wednesday.

Raptors: At Indiana on Wednesday.

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Toronto Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley (5) moves the ball under pressure from Philadelphia 76ers guard Vj Edgecombe during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley (5) makes a pass under pressure from Philadelphia 76ers forward Adem Bona (30) and teammate Paul George (8) during first half NBA basketball action in Toronto, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors forward/center Sandro Mamukelashvili (54) dunks over Philadelphia 76ers forward Dominick Barlow (25) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George (8) fouls Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) and Philadelphia 76ers centre/forward Joel Embiid (21) vie for a loose ball during first half NBA basketball action in Toronto, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)