{"id":19055,"date":"2025-05-08T17:26:13","date_gmt":"2025-05-08T17:26:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/19055\/"},"modified":"2025-05-08T17:26:13","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T17:26:13","slug":"pacers-tyrese-haliburton-expecting-fine-for-vulgar-celebration-that-got-lebron-james-punished-in-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/19055\/","title":{"rendered":"Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton expecting fine for vulgar celebration that got LeBron James punished in 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"

By ALEX RASKIN<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 09:19 EDT, 7 May 2025 | Updated: 11:07 EDT, 8 May 2025 <\/p>\n

A tradition unlike any other, the ‘Big Balls’ dance has returned to the NBA<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This time it was Indiana<\/a> Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton who celebrated Tuesday’s thrilling game-winning 3-pointer<\/a> against the Cleveland Cavaliers<\/a> by pretending to have gigantic gonads.<\/p>\n

And while many expect the NBA will fine the All-Star guard, he didn’t seem to care after pushing the Pacers to a 2-0 lead with the second-round playoff series heading back to Indianapolis.<\/p>\n

‘I’ve been waiting for that, man,’ Haliburton told reporters in Cleveland after his 19-point effort. ‘It was just right in the moment. I’ll take that fine gladly.’<\/p>\n

The dance originated with the 1994 sequel to the film Major League, but became popularized in the NBA by Sam Cassell, a journeyman guard who now serves as a Boston Celtics<\/a> assistant coach.<\/p>\n

Since then it has been occasionally recreated by a number of famous NBA stars, including LeBron James<\/a>, who incurred a $15,000 fine for doing the dance in a 2021<\/a> win over the Pacers.<\/p>\n

\"Indiana <\/p>\n

Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton\u00a0celebrated Tuesday’s thrilling game-winning 3-pointer against the Cleveland Cavaliers by pretending to have gigantic gonads<\/p>\n

\"LeBron <\/p>\n

LeBron James incurred a $1,500 fine in 2021 for performing a similar gesture in Indianapolis<\/p>\n

\"Haliburton <\/p>\n

Haliburton (center) celebrates the game-winner with Aaron Nesmith (left) and Myles Turner<\/p>\n

Patrick Mahomes and Caitlin Clark were among those left in shock by Haliburton after he gave the underdog Pacers a 120-119 win by draining a 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds remaining.<\/p>\n

‘TY!!!!!!!! WHAT A WIN !!!!!! @Pacers,’ Caitlin Clark wrote on social media. The former No 1 overall pick plays for Indiana’s WNBA team, the Fever.<\/p>\n

Mahomes also took to X to praise Haliburton. ‘Wow!!’ the Chiefs quarterback wrote alongside the laughing emoji.<\/p>\n

It was Haliburton’s second last-gasp game-winner of this postseason after he eliminated the Bucks in similarly dramatic circumstances.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That victory was tainted by Haliburton\u2019s father, who was seen\u00a0getting in the face of Milwaukee star Giannis Antetokounmpo <\/a>after the game winner. The elder Haliburton has since agreed<\/a> to stay away from the team.<\/p>\n

\"The \"The <\/p>\n

The dance originated with the 1994 sequel to Major League (left), but became popularized in the NBA by Sam Cassell (right), a journeyman guard who now serves as a Celtics assistant<\/p>\n

On Tuesday, Haliburton scored 11 of his 19 points in the final frame as the Pacers erased what had been a 20-point lead.<\/p>\n

After Andrew Nembhard stole an inbounds pass by Cleveland’s Max Strus with 27.5 seconds remaining, Indiana tried to find a potential tying 3-pointer before Haliburton drove inside and got fouled.<\/p>\n

He would make the first free throw before missing the second. However, Haliburton got the offensive rebound and dribbled out to the 3-point line, where he drained the game winner from the top of the key.<\/p>\n

Myles Turner and Aaron Nesmith led No. 4 seed Indiana with 23 points apiece.<\/p>\n

It’s the first time the Pacers have won the first two games of a playoff series on the road since a 1994 first-round set against Orlando.<\/p>\n

Remarkably, the home team has yet to win a single game in the second round of the NBA playoffs, with Boston, Cleveland, Oklahoma City and Minnesota going a combined 0-5 thus far.<\/p>\n

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