In a postseason already packed with jaw-dropping performances and unexpected twists, Pascal Siakam (@pskills43) delivered a masterpiece that might just redefine the Eastern Conference Finals. On a pivotal night in the basketball capital of the world, the Indiana Pacers shocked the New York Knicks once again, taking Game 2 at Madison Square Garden and seizing a commanding 2-0 series lead—thanks in large part to Siakam’s brilliance.
The final score: Pacers 112, Knicks 107.
The headline: Pascal Siakam drops 38 points and leads the Pacers to within two wins of the NBA Finals.
Let that sink in. Just months after arriving in Indiana via midseason trade, Siakam has become the heartbeat of a Pacers squad no one picked to go this far. And now, as the series heads back to Indianapolis, the momentum belongs completely to the blue and gold.
Spicy P Cooks Again
From the opening tip, Siakam was locked in. Aggressive, efficient, and completely in rhythm, he punished the Knicks from every spot on the floor. Whether it was a silky turnaround jumper in the post, a coast-to-coast layup in transition, or a confident three-pointer from the corner, Siakam was unstoppable. He finished with 38 points on 15-of-23 shooting, adding 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals in 41 minutes of high-impact basketball.
The most impressive part? His timing. Every time the Knicks made a run, Siakam had an answer. Midway through the fourth quarter, with the Garden roaring after a 9-0 New York surge, Siakam calmly sank a pull-up jumper to stop the bleeding—then followed it up with a defensive stop and a dish to Tyrese Haliburton for a three. Just like that, momentum shifted back.
“Pascal’s presence has been everything for us,” said Haliburton postgame. “He’s not just scoring—he’s leading. He’s composed. He’s fearless. And he’s lifting us to another level.”
A Statement Win on the Road
Winning at Madison Square Garden in the playoffs is never easy. Doing it twice in the same week? That’s rare air. The Pacers, led by head coach Rick Carlisle, have executed their game plan to near-perfection through two games: smart ball movement, relentless pace, and an emphasis on getting stops when it counts.
While the Knicks continued to fight—Jalen Brunson poured in 31 points and Josh Hart added 16 and 9 rebounds—they couldn’t overcome the firepower and discipline Indiana brought to the table. Myles Turner played tough in the paint, Andrew Nembhard gave valuable minutes off the bench, and Haliburton controlled the tempo with 22 points and 11 assists.
But the star of the night was Siakam. His confidence and calm under pressure kept Indiana composed even as MSG tried to will the Knicks back into the game.
“He’s been in big moments before,” Carlisle said in the postgame presser. “That experience matters. He understands what it takes. And right now, he’s showing it on the biggest stage.”
Heading Home with the Advantage
Now, the series shifts to Indiana, where the Pacers will host Games 3 and 4 in front of a fan base that’s absolutely buzzing. With a 2-0 lead, the Pacers have a golden opportunity to close this series out on their home floor and punch their ticket to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000.
And make no mistake—the fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse are ready. It’s been a long time since Indiana basketball felt this alive. A team that began the season as an afterthought is now just two wins from the biggest stage in basketball, led by a star who seems born for these moments.
For Siakam, the journey has been remarkable. From his championship run in Toronto to the midseason trade to Indiana, his career has been defined by adaptability, growth, and grit. Now, he’s showing the league once again that he’s not just a solid player—he’s a franchise cornerstone.
“I’m just here to do whatever it takes to win,” Siakam said, when asked about his performance. “That’s what the playoffs are all about. I don’t care about stats—I care about moments. And we’re creating some big ones right now.”
Can the Knicks Respond?
All eyes now turn to Game 3, and the pressure is squarely on New York. No team wants to fall behind 3-0 in a series—that’s essentially a death sentence. For Tom Thibodeau’s squad, it’s gut-check time. They’ll need a sharper start, more help for Brunson, and a solution for slowing down Siakam, who has scored 70 points combined in the first two games.
The Knicks have shown resilience before, but facing a red-hot Siakam and a surging Pacers team, they’ll need their best performance of the postseason just to stay alive.
A Star is Shining Bright
What’s clear after two games is this: Pascal Siakam is reminding everyone why he’s one of the NBA’s most dangerous playoff performers. With poise, polish, and a killer instinct, he’s elevated the Pacers into the spotlight and put the Eastern Conference on notice.
Heading home with a 2-0 lead, Indiana controls its destiny—and with Siakam playing like this, the Finals no longer feel like a dream. They feel like a real, tangible goal, just two wins away.
So yes, @pskills43 went OFF.
And the @pacers? They’re rolling—with their eyes on the prize.
