An early moment of tension ignited during the first quarter when Oklahoma City’s star Lu Dort caught Tyrese Haliburton with an elbowLu Dort and Tyrese Haliburton (Image Credit: X/@sportingnews)
The Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder are locked in a heated battle in the NBA Finals. Tyrese Haliburton’s team is now leading the series 2-1. Hence, the pressure is mounting on the young Thunder squad to respond and avoid falling into a 3-1 deficit.

Hence, Friday’s game has already been intense. An early moment of tension ignited during the first quarter when Oklahoma City’s star Lu Dort caught Haliburton with an elbow.

The incident occurred during a free-throw attempt by Bennedict Mathurin. During the play, Dort passed up a three-point shot and swung his arm back, striking Haliburton with his left elbow.

Haliburton immediately fell to the court and remained down for several seconds. Strikingly, referee James Capers did not call a foul.

Hali or the Pacers team also did not request a call. The Thunder then missed the shot at the rim shortly after. However, the non-call remained one of the most controversial calls in the NBA Finals.

 

Tyrese Haliburton Shares His Finals Mentality After Game 3 Win

Tyrese Haliburton Tyrese Haliburton (Photo By Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)
Following Indiana’s crucial Game 3 victory, Haliburton spoke about the unique intensity of playing on basketball’s biggest stage. The Pacers star shared the emotional weight and physical demand of the moment.

“You’re playing in the NBA Finals. There should be a higher sense of urgency, a higher level of stress. Your spit should taste different,” Haliburton said.

Indiana inches closer to a historic title. They are just two wins away from their first NBA championship. Hence, Tyrese Haliburton has embraced the heightened stakes.

Houston Texans star Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his illegal hit to Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the ensuing brawl between the teams in a lengthy statement on social media.  

Al-Shaair’s statement comes as his three-game suspension as a result of the incident has ended and he is slated to return to the field for the Texans on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

On December 1, an Al-Shaair hit to the head of a sliding and defenseless Lawrence caused chaos in Jacksonville. The defensive back needed to be restrained by several coaches and Lawrence has not played since taking the barbaric contact.

‘While so many jumped at the first opportunity to hop on the false narrative – that l’m a dirty player or bad person – the messages from all who stood by me were the only things keeping me mentally afloat during a time of isolation,’ Al-Shaair said on social media.

‘I’ve learned so much from this entire experience. Seeing myself on video – letting my emotions get the best of me to the point where I completely lost it – was an embarrassing and eye-opening moment for me.’

‘I’ve had to earn everything in my life. I never want to allow anyone to get me to a point where I jeopardize everything that I’ve worked all my life to obtain. That was not the way I want to represent myself or my family and I will continue to learn and grow from that moment.’

Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his hit to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence
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Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his hit to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence

The Texans defensive back was suspended for three games as a result of the hit to Lawrence
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The Texans defensive back was suspended for three games as a result of the hit to Lawrence

Al-Shaair said during his three-game ban, he met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and other league executives for the first time, taking issue with how he was characterized in the official announcement of his suspension.

The defender said he thought his character and integrity were ‘unjustifiably smeared’ in the release but the meeting with Goodell and others was ‘productive’ and gave him hope it would not happen again.

‘In that conversation – man-to-man – I owned and acknowledged that my actions following my ejection were careless and, in that moment, I didn’t think about the responsibility I have been blessed with to represent the shield,’ Al-Shaair continued.

‘I also stated that the letter, and specifically the language used in the letter, was equally as careless and conveyed that the context of the words used were not a reflection of my character, nor my career, as I have not been warned multiple times for my play on the field.’

Al-Shaair’s hit on Lawrence was not the only controversial incident he was involved in this season.

During the Texans’ game against the Bears in September, he punched Roschon Johnson, who wasn’t even in the game at the time of another sideline confrontation.

Al-Shaair ended his statement by saying his view is that everyone in the league office and on the field are on the same team to represent the NFL in the best nature possible, something he failed to do earlier this month.

‘Lastly, I’ll say that this world is full of negative people who can’t wait to tear you down, but if you move with love and compassion, the seeds of good you planted in others’ lives can grow into the very tree that shades you with comfort and compassion when you need it most,’ Al-Shaair concluded.

‘I am a man of God, I am a leader, a warrior and a lover. I am also a hell of a football player and I’m grateful to be back doing what I love.’