Indianapolis Police are investigating an incident between Milwaukee Bucks guard Patrick Beverley and a fan during Game 6 of the first-round series against the Indiana Pacers, The Athletic's Shams Charania reported Wednesday.
With about 2 1/2 minutes left in Milwaukee’s 120-98 Game 6 loss at Indiana that eliminated the Bucks from the playoffs, cameras showed Beverley sitting on the bench and tossing a ball into the stands and hitting a fan. After a different fan threw the ball back to Beverley, who was holding his arm out for it, the Bucks guard fired it back at that spectator.
According to Charania, detectives are working with Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Pacers' arena, to review video footage from the incident and will speak all the parties involved.
Police said in a news release the case has been forwarded to detectives, “who are currently investigating this situation and take all accusations seriously.”
Detectives will present the case to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office at the conclusion of the investigation, the release stated.
Last week, the NBA launched an investigation into the altercation as well as post-game, when Beverley declined to speak to a reporter following the loss.
Beverley wouldn’t allow a journalist to ask a question after discovering that she didn’t subscribe to his podcast. He told her to get her microphone out of his face and then eventually asked her to leave the interview circle.
The journalist was identified on social media as ESPN producer Malinda Adams. She tweeted Friday that Beverley called her and apologized.
“I appreciate it and accept it,” she said in her tweet. “The Bucks also reached out to apologize.”
Beverley spoke about his behaviour on an episode of “The Pat Bev Podcast” that was released Wednesday. He said he was called a word that he’d never been called before, but added that his own actions were “still inexcusable.”
“I will be better," he said. "I have to be better, and I will be better. That should have never happened. Regardless of what was said, that should have never happened. Simple as that.”
Beverley added the atmosphere in Indiana “was great” aside from “a handful of fans” who crossed a line. The Pacers beat the Bucks 120-98, eliminating Milwaukee from the playoffs.
-- With files from the Associated Press
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