A bit of hope was on the way for the Milwaukee Bucks as they headed to Indianapolis to face the Indiana Pacers in Game 6 of their 2024 first-round playoff matchup. The Bucks took care of business in Game 5 despite not having Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, but in Game 6, the latter made his return from a two-game absence courtesy of an Achilles injury. In the end, however, the Bucks still took a 120-98 beating from the Pacers, therefore ending their season.
As the old adage goes, he who laughs last, laughs best. The Bucks, particularly Patrick Beverley, had a bit of a laugh at Tyrese Haliburton despite suffering a blowout loss in Game 4. Beverley implied that Haliburton was overrated with some incendiary words in his Game 4 postgame presser, and now that the Pacers have taken care of business and advanced to the second round, the 24-year old All-Star point guard had a clapback for Beverley's banter.
In fact, Tyrese Haliburton decided to twist the knife by referencing a line that Beverley's Bucks teammate, Damian Lillard, wrote in the past regarding his “beef” with the league's preeminent defensive pest.
“Con man. Flip from above the rim,” Haliburton wrote on his official Twitter (X) account as he quote tweeted the video of Patrick Beverley's remarks following Game 4.
Damian Lillard, of course, was referencing the movie “Above the Rim” (1994) starring Tupac; in that film was a character named “Flip” (played by the late Bernie Mac). Flip was a homeless drug addict who loved to jaw at every basketball player he came up against. This then led to his demise, as he was murdered eventually while trying to sleep in the streets.
That is a very harsh reference from the now-Bucks star, who was then with the Portland Trail Blazers. But Lillard isn't exactly known for backing down without a fight. He clearly had enough with all of Beverley's trash talk back last year; this year, the two mended fences as they tried to make their partnership in Milwaukee work.
However, due to the considerable history between the two, Lillard unknowingly gave the Pacers star ammo to knock Beverley and the Bucks down a peg or two.
Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers stamp their class over Patrick Beverley, Bucks
Patrick Beverley, following Game 5, implied that Tyrese Haliburton was only tallying double-digit assists because he was playing upwards of 40 minutes per night. The Bucks guard did not want to give credit to Haliburton for his top-tier passing vision. Instead, Beverley gave Haliburton and the Pacers some bulletin board material.
At first, it seemed like Beverley and the Bucks won the mental warfare. Beverley proved his point in Game 5 by tallying 12 assists in 36 minutes of play — tying a career-high for Beverley (regular season and playoffs combined). In Game 6, however, the Pacers shut him down quite easily. The Pacers held Beverley to six points and five assists, numbers that are more in line with Beverley's career averages.
The good thing with Patrick Beverley is that he is a good sport; he knows that if he can dish out some trash talk, he can take it as well.
Beverley is a good sport
With Game 6 out of reach and the Bucks' first-round exit sealed, Patrick Beverley, per Tyrese Haliburton, came over to the Pacers bench and admitted defeat.
Patrick Beverley reiterated this sentiment on his official Twitter (X) account, writing: “Damn belt 2 A$$ 🤦🏾♂️ @PatBevPod Congratulations Indy.”
This is what makes Beverley admirable, as frustrating as he can get when he's on the opposing team. He is committed to his role as an irritant, but he's not too sore of a loser as well, as he can make fun of himself too when things don't go his way.