The Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers faced off on Wednesday in what was a very chaotic game, to say the least. Milwuakee ran out 140-126 winners following Giannis Antetokounmpo setting a franchise-record 64 points, but the talking points came after the game when tensions boiled over.
These two met in the Eastern Semifinal of the NBA In-Season Tournament, where the Pacers took home the victory in Las Vegas. Nothing really to note happened from that game that could cause a rivalry of sorts other than Tyrese Haliburton copying Damian Lillard's celebration, but that didn't seem to cause much of a reaction.
Here's what really happened from the Bucks and Pacers most recent game.
What really happened between the Bucks and Pacers - The Kickoff
It is a tough situation to get around as there has been a lot of differing stories coming out around the game as to what happened following the game. Both sets of players have explained their side and trying to figure out what is what hasn't been easy.
Initial tensions boiled when Aaron Nesmith wrapped up Giannis' neck as he drove towards the basket, and in any game, that is very much a no-no play due to the danger it can put the driving player in, but also the defending player following the collision.
Bobby Portis was sticking up for his teammate as a scuffle between both sides ensued. Thanasis Antetokounmpo had to be held back on the bench and for his own good by the level of anger he was displaying towards Nesmith. Portis was later ejected for his second technical foul.
The game itself was physical and may have started a potential rivalry but what happened next is where a lot of the talking points come from.
What really happened between the Bucks and Pacers - The Game Ball
As the final buzzer sounded, there was confusion around the game ball and that Giannis wanted the ball, having broken the franchise scoring record. Something many NBA legends, including Shaquille O'Neal, agreed with.
Giannis wanted the game ball as it is something he has always given to his mother following a milestone performance.
One thing that has been suggested is that the Pacers deliberately took the game ball to the locker room and prevented Giannis from having it. In the clip linked, one of the Indiana assistants can be seen smirking and walking away with a ball.
Indiana wanted to keep the game ball for rookie Oscar Tshiebwe, who scored his first NBA point. Technically, Tshiebwe did score in their In-Season Tournament final, but that is not counted towards regular season stats. We are still unsure whether Giannis received the game ball or if it was a reserve ball that was passed onto him instead, but the incidents were explained in the post-game interviews.
Giannis can also be seen charging down the tunnel towards the Pacers locker room with teammates and coaches behind to try and calm the situation. Pacers players were heard saying to keep the ball, which made tensions boil over even more. Giannis and Haliburton were on the court, with the former demanding that he get the game ball from them.
Danny Carter, who is the Assistant Director of Team Security for the Bucks, has the responsibility of getting the game ball. As the buzzer sounds, he can be seen going over to one of the refs and retrieving the ball. It is then later that the Pacers are holding a ball, but we can't see whether that was the reserve or game ball had somehow been handed over to them.
What really happened between the Bucks and Pacers - The Fallout
It took over an hour before Giannis took to the podium and for everything to calm down. Security, of course, had to step in, and there was even a police presence in the tunnels in order to keep the players in check. Thankfully, nothing too serious happened, and it was just an exchange of words and what seemed to be a misunderstanding that neither team communicated very well, leading to it boiling over.
Giannis was asked about the incident after the game, and he explained that he didn't think he received the actual game ball, stating that it felt different and that he had been given a reserve ball.
In what was a great game between two strong teams fighting towards the top of the Eastern Conference, the whole thing did overshadow a great game and historic performance from Giannis. Pacers' head coach Rick Carlisle said post-game that the Pacers' GM caught an elbow from a player. Carlisle kept his calm and handled the situation well, suggesting his players could have taken the spare ball but also saying it never should have got to the point of players facing off in the tunnel.
Damian Lillard moved into the fifth spot for the all-time 3-pointer made in NBA history, and after the game, he was asked about the situation. He was in the middle of the argument on the court as he was attempting to see where everyone was an what was going on.
These two teams have faced off three times this season now and are set to meet again on the 1st and 3rd January so not long to wait. The Pacers have since added veteran and is well known for being an enforcer and having a second-degree black belt in karate, sparking the conversation of the Pacers needing to add that steel to their young roster following the incident.
The games and this postgame incident have certainly sparked a rivalry between the two sides. Milwaukee may find this situation one that brings them together after having had question marks raised about the roster and how well they will do this season.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks news and analysis over the festive period.