The Indiana Pacers defeated the New York Knicks 130-121 in Game 4, securing a 3-1 advantage in the Eastern Conference Finals. While Tyrese Haliburton delivered a standout performance with a triple-double (32 points, 15 assists, 12 rebounds), he wasn`t the only local sports figure who captured attention.
During a break in the fourth quarter, former Indianapolis Colts punter Pat McAfee was given a microphone and proceeded to deliver an energetic, WWE-style address. He specifically named prominent New York fans present, including Spike Lee, Ben Stiller, and Timothee Chalamet, which naturally drew boos from the home crowd. McAfee then encouraged the Indiana fans to “send these sons of bitches back to New York with their ears ringing,” using notably strong language.
Grammy-winning artist John Mellencamp, an Indiana native, was also in attendance and reportedly did not appreciate McAfee`s comments. Mellencamp was sufficiently bothered by the incident to publish a statement on social media two days later.
It`s speculated that Mellencamp`s disapproval stemmed from McAfee`s profanity or his action of calling out specific celebrity fans by name. The `Hurts So Good` singer stated his belief that the Pacers organization was not involved in orchestrating the stunt, despite McAfee being provided with a microphone to deliver his message.
The Indiana Pacers now have the opportunity to conclude the series and advance to the NBA Finals for just the second time in franchise history. They face the Knicks in Game 5 in New York on Thursday night.
Jasper Hawthorne