Well, the Pacers and Cavs haven’t even laced up for Game 1 yet, and somehow we’ve already got proud dads, fake merch drama, and local news anchors tossing around bets like they’re on Inside the NBA: Midwest Edition. Leave it to the Eastern Conference Semis to deliver off-court fireworks before the on-court action even tips off. Tyrese Haliburton may be running the show for Indiana, but it’s his dad and a few cheerful TV personalities who’ve stolen the pregame spotlight.

In a charming twist, the battle between Cleveland and Indianapolis isn’t just happening on the hardwood—it’s hit the 4 o’clock news. Jay Crawford and Christi Paul, holding it down in Cleveland, decided to spice things up by issuing a friendly wager to Indiana’s own Dustin Grove and Felicia Lawrence. The terms? The loser has to rock the winner’s gear live on-air. Peak Midwest playoff energy.

Dustin and Felicia didn’t blink. They fired back with a confident roll call: “Myles Turner. Tyrese Haliburton. TJ McConnell.” And they weren’t even done—Pascal Siakam didn’t get a mention, though, which feels a little unfair to someone quietly putting up All-Star numbers. But hey, when the anchor desk turns into a pregame tunnel, you lead with the hype men.

It’s all good-natured, of course—a wholesome TV rivalry with stakes just spicy enough to keep viewers smiling. No trash talk, no trolling, just two cities backing their squads the best way they know how: with some local pride and a camera crew. And honestly, after the season we’ve had? This is the kind of side story we can all root for. And yet, somehow, things still managed to get even weirder.

“Control Your Dad” Isn’t Real—But the Internet Sure Wanted It to Be

While the anchors were trading playful jabs, another story was brewing. It involved a viral confrontation between Giannis Antetokounmpo and Tyrese Haliburton’s dad. After the Pacers’ wild Game 5 win over Milwaukee, Haliburton Sr. stormed the court. He waved a towel with his son’s face on it, directing it at Giannis. It was loud, bold, and a bit messy.

Giannis kept it cool in the post-game but still called it “very, very disrespectful.” Tyrese? He admitted he hadn’t even seen it happen until after the fact, and let’s just say the post-game talk with dad was… productive. “I don’t agree with what transpired there,” Tyrese Haliburton said. “Let’s keep it on the court.” He also added, “I don’t think that my pops was in the right at all there… Will have a conversation”.

But the internet? Oh, the internet was already Photoshopping fake Cavs merch with the slogan, “Control Your Dad.” Suddenly, a rumor started swirling that Cleveland would be handing out those shirts at Game 1. Wild, right? The situation escalated after Giannis’ comments, and following some internal discussions, the Pacers front office decided to step in.

After conversations with John Haliburton, the team decided he would no longer attend the Pacers’ home and road games for the foreseeable future. A team spokesperson confirmed that John Haliburton understood and accepted the decision. He made it clear that he wouldn’t let the incident overshadow his son’s playoff run. This move highlights the balance between family loyalty and the NBA’s professional demands. Personal drama can quickly take the spotlight.

13News reached out to the Cavaliers, who shut it down immediately. A team rep shot down the rumor, confirming, “That is not our t-shirt giveaway for fans,” and pointed everyone toward the official playoff gear, which proudly reads “We Are the Diff.” Not quite as spicy. But certainly less likely to end up in an ESPN segment. So no, there’s no actual “Control Your Dad” shirt floating around the Q.

But as far as pregame narratives go, the Cavs-Pacers series already has layers. There’s regional pride, actual stakes, and yes, familial side plots. So here we are—tip-off still hours away, and the Pacers-Cavs showdown already feels like a full-blown playoff saga. We’ve got bets on the news, viral t-shirts that don’t exist, and a dad who might need his own media credential at this point. All that’s left now is the basketball. And if it’s anything like the buildup, we’re in for a wild ride.