Tension between Pacers and Bucks harshly addressed by Tyrese Haliburton.

The Indianapolis-based Indiana Pacers and the Milwaukee-based Bucks don't exactly see eye to eye, and Tyrese Haliburton sure isn't shy about it. Here's a lowdown on the fierce rivalry brewing between these two teams, especially in the NBA Playoffs.

In a thrilling 123-115 victory, the Pacers managed to stomp the Bucks in Game 2, taking a commanding 2-0 series lead in the playoffs. Tensions gushed over, with verbal exchanges and double technical fouls clouding the game. Haliburton, the Pacers' star, engaged in a heated back-and-forth with Milwaukee's Damian Lillard during Game 1. Lillard, recovering from a deep vein thrombosis in his right calf, made a comeback for Game 2, and the hostility was palpable.

"Just competitors. He wants to win, I want to win," Haliburton expressed post-match. "It's the highest level. We're in the highest level in the most contentious moment here in the playoffs."

The drama didn't stop there. A tense moment unfolded when Milwaukee's Gary Trent Jr. and Indiana's Pascal Siakam clashed over a loose ball, with Siakam landing brutally on the floor.

"We don't have to sit here and act like it's any secret," Haliburton asserted after the game. "We don't like them, they don't like us, and that's just what it is. And I think they live for this, we live for this, so I could [not] care less. I'm out here just trying to help my team win a game."

Haliburton's statement echoes the current state of the rivalry. The Pacers, who fell three times to the Bucks during the regular season, have managed to turn the tables thus far in the postseason.

"Everybody says league rivalries aren't here anymore. Well, it's right here," Haliburton added. "We played each other it feels like a million times over the last two years. I've seen every different coverage that they could throw at us, and I feel like those guys probably feel the same way about us."

The series now shifts to Milwaukee for Game 3 on Friday, and given the past encounters, it's fair to expect another nail-biting confrontation.

KEY POINTS:- Game 2: Pacers defeat Bucks 123-115, taking a 2-0 series lead in the playoffs.- Tyrese Haliburton engaged in a heated exchange with Bucks star Damian Lillard in both games.- Lillard returned to action in Game 2 after recovery from an injury.- Further tension erupted between Milwaukee's Gary Trent Jr. and Indiana's Pascal Siakam.- Haliburton put up 21 points, 12 assists, and 5 rebounds in the Pacers' win.

MORE TO EXPLORE:- Pacers Star Done Dirty By NBA Peers' 'Most Overrated' Label - An analysis of the perception of Tyrese Haliburton within the NBA community.- NBA Cup Incident - A look back at theanimosity between the two teams during the 2023 NBA Cup semifinals and final.

Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers' star, adamantly declared after the intense Game 2, "We don't like them, they don't like us, and that's just what it is."
In the ongoing feud, Haliburton scored 21 points, dished out 12 assists, and accumulated 5 rebounds, playing a crucial role in the Pacers' double-digit victory over the Bucks.
Recalling their harsh encounters, Haliburton, referring to the past season, stated, "Those guys probably feel the same way about us because we've seen every different coverage they could throw at us."
The bitter sports-analysis of the Pacers-Bucks rivalry gained attention recently with headlines like 'Pacers Star Done Dirty By NBA Peers' Overrated Label', highlighting the public perception of Tyrese Haliburton within the NBA community.
Post-Game 2, refereeing calls between the two teams also sparked debate, leading pundits to question potential biases in NBA officiating, bringing the controversial topic of sports-analysis further into the spotlight.