Siakam Leads Pacers to 3-1 Series Lead Against Knicks

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Pascal Siakam helped the Indiana Pacers take a commanding 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals with a stellar performance against the New York Knicks on Tuesday night, scoring 30 points in just 35 minutes.

Siakam’s impressive outing marked his second game in the series with over 30 points, showcasing his offensive abilities and leadership on the court. The three-time All-Star currently leads the Pacers in scoring with an average of 25.8 points per game, shooting 54.1 percent from the field and 50 percent from beyond the arc.

“Oh yeah, Pascal is a great player,” said OG Anunoby, Siakam’s former teammate on the Toronto Raptors. Anunoby has been tasked with defending Siakam throughout the series. “Just try to make it as difficult as possible and force him into uncomfortable possessions. Pascal is one of my great friends in the league. We were very close as teammates.”

During the series, Siakam has thrived against Anunoby, scoring 27 points in 27 minutes while guarded by him. Meanwhile, Anunoby scored a series-high 22 points during Tuesday’s game, though he struggled with his three-point shooting.

Siakam’s performance was bolstered by a triple-double from Tyrese Haliburton, who recorded 32 points, 15 assists, and 12 rebounds with no turnovers. “He was everywhere,” Siakam said, humorously noting that Haliburton had “stolen” some rebounds from him during the game.

In the series, Siakam has consistently reached the free-throw line, attempting 24 free throws thus far and converting 17, which is a 70.8 percent success rate. He attributed his scoring success to teamwork and different players stepping up every game. “It’s an us thing,” Siakam stated. “I’m just glad to be able to help.”

The Pacers acquired Siakam from the Raptors in a multi-player trade last January, and he has since become an essential part of their playoff success. With the chance to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000, Siakam and the Pacers are looking to capitalize on their current momentum.