INDIANAPOLIS (AP) 鈥� Indianapolis police announced Wednesday they’ve opened an investigation into an 鈥淣BA player and citizen鈥� altercation that happened at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on the night Bucks guard Patrick Beverley in the final minutes of to the Pacers.
Police said in a news release the case has been forwarded to detectives, 鈥渨ho are currently investigating this situation and take all accusations seriously.鈥�
Detectives will present the case to the Marion County Prosecutor鈥檚 Office at the conclusion of the investigation, the release stated.
Cameras showed Beverley sitting on the bench and tossing a ball into the stands, hitting a fan in the head with about 2 陆 minutes left in the game on May 2. 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.
Beverley spoke about his behavior on an episode of 鈥淭he Pat Bev Podcast鈥� that was released Wednesday. He said he was called a word that he鈥檇 never been called before, but added that his own actions were 鈥渟till inexcusable.鈥�
鈥淚 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.鈥�
Beverley added the atmosphere in Indiana 鈥渨as great鈥� aside from 鈥渁 handful of fans鈥� who crossed the line. The Pacers beat the Bucks 120-98, eliminating Milwaukee from the playoffs.
鈥淚 ain鈥檛 bringing a basketball on the bench no more,鈥� Beverley said. 鈥淭hat 鈥� threw my whole vibe off.鈥�
After the game, Beverley wouldn’t allow ESPN journalist Malinda Adams to ask him a question in a group interview in the locker room. He said it was because she didn’t subscribe to his podcast. Beverley told her to get her microphone out of his face and then eventually asked her to leave the interview circle.
On his podcast Wednesday, Beverley said he had asked that of reporters who interviewed him ever since he launched his podcast. Beverley said he told Adams that 鈥渋t was never my intent to disrespect you.鈥�
A day after the loss, Bucks coach Doc Rivers said Beverley’s behavior was 鈥渘ot the Milwaukee way or the Bucks way.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e better than that,” Rivers said. “Pat feels awful about that. He also understands emotionally 鈥� this is an emotional game and things happen 鈥� unfortunately, you鈥檙e judged immediately and he let the emotions get the better of him.鈥�
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