The NBA continues to be the best reality show on television.
The Pacers closed out the Bucks in Game 6 at home, winning their first playoff series since 2014. The first-round battle got chippy and physical between the two teams, and some rivalries developed in the process.
Two players who came into this series with a quiet beef were Pacers All-Star Tyrese Haliburton and Bucks defensive stopper Patrick Beverley.
You may have missed it, but the two point guards traded shots at each other last year when Beverley was playing for the Bulls.
“I heard Haliburton did an interview a while ago and he mentioned my name. For a first-year guy to mention my name, especially all the work I’ve done in this league defensively, I felt it was, I wouldn’t say disrespectful, but I remembered his words,” Beverley said. “I took it kind of personal and I wanted that challenge tonight. Coach gave it to me. Subscribe to the pod.”
Since Beverley started “keeping receipts,” Haliburton hit two game-winners over Beverley, as The Sporting News’ Steph Noh pointed out.
That rivalry turned a new page during this Bucks-Pacers series.
MORE: Bucks eliminated by Pacers: What went wrong for Milwaukee?
The Haliburton-Beverley beef was turned up a notch once Beverley downplayed Haliburton’s playmaking after the Bucks fell behind 3-1 in the series.
“What have you seen trying to defend Haliburton in this series?” a reporter asked Beverley.
“Nothing. Check the numbers. I think he’s shooting 19 percent from the 3. … If I gave you the ball for 41 minutes you’d have 10 assists also,” Beverley responded.
Haliburton waited until after the Pacers took care of business to respond, and his comeback was perfect.
“Con man. Flip from above the rim,” Haliburton wrote on X.
MORE: Patrick Beverley throws basketball at Pacers fan in crowd
If that response looks familiar, it should.
Last year, before Damian Lillard and Beverley were teammates, Lillard said the exact same thing about the known heel.
Not only did Haliburton’s Pacers knock Beverley’s Bucks out of the playoffs, but the All-Star point guard also got the last laugh in their feud.
Credit where it’s due for Tyrese Haliburton. That is how you internet.
