Tyrese Haliburton's father John will be back in the building Tuesday for Game 4 between the Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks.
Starting tomorrow, John Haliburton will be allowed to attend Pacers home games and sit in a suite at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. He had been banned from the previous eight Indiana playoff games following a postgame altercation with Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo on April 29.
The Pacers organization made the decision to bar the elder Haliburton from games, which he accepted. Moving forward, he still won't attend road contests, Charania reported.
Indiana currently leads its Eastern Conference Finals matchup 2-1. The Pacers won both games in New York, including an historic comeback in Game 1, before blowing a 20-point lead and falling in Game Sunday night.
Game 4 is set for 8 p.m. ET Tuesday from Gainbridge Fieldhouse and will be broadcast on TNT.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 11: Tyrese Haliburton #0 of the Indiana Pacers and his father, John Haliburton, pose for a photograph prior to the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 11, 2022 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images) Ron Hoskins/Getty Images
The confrontation between John Haliburton and Giannis occurred after Tyrese Haliburton scored the game-winning layup in Game 5 to wrap up the Pacers' first-round victory over the Bucks.
While the two had to be separated by Milwaukee personnel, Giannis later said that he and John Haliburton had spoken and were "in a good place."
"I sincerely apologize to Giannis, the Milwaukee Bucks and the Pacers organization for my actions following tonight's game," John Haliburton wrote on social media at the time. "This was not a good reflection on our sport or my son and I will not make that mistake again."
Tyrese Haliburton also addressed the incident with reporters after the game, saying his father was in the wrong.
"I don't agree with what transpired there from him," Haliburton said. "Basketball is basketball, and let's keep it on the court. I think he just got excited, saw his son make a game winner and came on the court, but we had a conversation.
"He needs to just allow me to play basketball and stay over there, and I'll come to him to celebrate. But the emotions of the game got excited there. I talked with him. I'll talk with Giannis. I don't think my pops was in the right at all there."
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This story was originally published May 26, 2025 at 9:31 AM.