Pascal Siakam delivered the playoff performance of his career Friday night, pouring in 39 points to lead the Indiana Pacers past the New York Knicks 114-109 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Pacers now hold a commanding 2-0 series lead as the series shifts to Indianapolis for a pivotal Game 3 on Sunday.
Siakam was unstoppable, finishing 15-for-23 from the field and carrying an Indiana offense that saw no other player make more than five shots. The former NBA champion with Toronto showed his postseason pedigree, hitting clutch baskets down the stretch, including a dagger 3-pointer that capped a 13-4 run early in the fourth quarter, giving Indiana a 94-85 edge with 9:17 remaining.
Indiana’s depth and balance continued to shine. Myles Turner added 16 points, while Tyrese Haliburton contributed a near triple-double with 14 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds. The Pacers, seeking their first NBA Finals appearance since 2000, have now won six straight road playoff games since dropping Game 3 in Milwaukee during the first round.
The Knicks, behind another gritty performance from Jalen Brunson — who tallied 36 points and 11 assists — fought hard but once again fell short in the final moments. They trailed by 10 with under three minutes left but stormed back with a 9-0 run, capped by a Josh Hart layup that cut it to 110-109 with 14 seconds remaining. But clutch free throws from Aaron Nesmith and Turner sealed it for Indiana, and Brunson’s late three-point attempt fell well short.
Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges each added 20 points and seven rebounds for New York, but Towns played just 28 minutes as coach Tom Thibodeau leaned on the defense and rebounding of Mitchell Robinson, who pulled down nine boards.
Friday’s clash, the 50th playoff meeting between the storied rivals (with Indiana now leading 28-22), had the physicality and tension reminiscent of their 1990s showdowns. Unlike Game 1’s 138-135 overtime shootout, Game 2 was a grind. Indiana jumped out to a 19-9 lead early, but the Knicks clawed back with the help of their bench and kept the game close throughout — until Siakam’s fourth-quarter explosion.
No team in NBA history has come back from a 2-0 deficit after losing the first two games at home in a conference finals, making Sunday’s Game 3 in Indiana a virtual must-win for the Knicks.
The timing couldn’t be better for a city ready to explode with excitement. With the famed Indianapolis 500 running earlier that day, Game 3 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse promises to be electric.
“We’ve been warriors on the road,” said Siakam postgame. “Now it’s time to bring that same energy home.”
If Indiana keeps rolling and Siakam keeps soaring, the Pacers may be just two wins away from a long-awaited return to the NBA Finals.
