Pascal Siakam scored a playoff career-high 39 points as the Indiana Pacers beat the New York Knicks 114-109 on Friday, taking a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.
After a quiet Game 1, Siakam set the tone early at Madison Square Garden, scoring Indiana’s first 11 points and finishing the opening quarter with 17.
He shot 15-of-23 from the field and added five rebounds and three assists in a performance that silenced the home crowd.
“He can get a bucket in so many different ways,” said Tyrese Haliburton, who had 14 points and 11 assists. “We just kept feeding him, and he made big shot after big shot.”
The Pacers acquired Siakam from Toronto in January 2024 and have leaned on his playoff experience. His leadership and scoring have been vital during Indiana’s postseason run.
This marked his third 35-point game in a Pacers uniform—trailing only Reggie Miller and Paul George in franchise playoff history, according to ESPN.
Siakam also found success against his former Raptors teammate OG Anunoby, who held him scoreless in Game 1. In Game 2, Siakam shot 4-of-6 when guarded by Anunoby and was 7-of-9 on contested field goals.
“I just appreciate the opportunity I have here,” Siakam said. “You can’t ride the wave. Can’t get too high, can’t get too low.”
Six Pacers scored in double figures, including Myles Turner with 16, 13 of which came in the fourth quarter. Indiana has now won six straight road games this postseason.
On the other side, Jalen Brunson had 36 points, but his potential game-tying 3-pointer in the final seconds missed the mark. The Knicks trailed by 10 with under three minutes to play and cut the lead to one in the final 20 seconds, but could not complete the comeback.
New York’s defensive struggles continued. “We can’t have blown coverages, no matter how late it is in the shot clock,” said Josh Hart.
The Knicks were hurt by Indiana’s ball movement and timely 3-point shooting, converting 13-of-30 from deep.
Karl-Anthony Towns struggled defensively again, with Indiana shooting 50% from three while he was on the floor. Backup center Mitchell Robinson had nine rebounds and three blocks but appeared to tweak his ankle late in the game.
Coach Tom Thibodeau said he would evaluate lineup changes before Game 3 in Indiana on Sunday.
The Knicks’ starters have now been outscored by 50 points across the playoffs, and Thibodeau acknowledged the need for better execution.
“We’re in the conference finals,” said Brunson. “Nothing else matters right now. The mental focus—everything—has to be there.”
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