The Indiana Pacers are two wins away from the NBA Finals out of the Eastern Conference.
Pascal Siakam had the hot hand on Friday in the team taking Game 2 from the New York Knicks.
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Pacers’ head coach Rick Carlisle said Siakam had a ‘special game.’
#Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle on Pascal Siakam’s 39-point night in the Pacers’ Game 2 win:
“Special game… He did everything. He attacked the rim. He was great in mid-range, and the three-point shot was there.” pic.twitter.com/0ob4RG3FHV
— WISH-TV News (@WISHNews8) May 24, 2025
“In the first half, he was the guy that got us going and got us through some difficult stretches,” Carlisle said. “I thought he really picked his spots to be aggressive. He ran great. He did everything. He attacked the rim. He was great in mid-range, and the three-point shot was there.”
Siakam dominated on the floor with a game-high 39 points on 15-of-23 shooting from the field, including three-of-five from 3-point range. He also had five rebounds, three assists, and a steal in Indiana’s 114-109 victory. Tyrese Haliburton, the star from game one that paid homage to Reggie Miller, had a double-double with 14 points and 11 assists. He turned in eight boards and two steals for the Pacers. Aaron Nesmith (12 points), Myles Turner (16 points), and Andrew Nembhard (12 points) rounded out the starting five scoring in double figures. T.J. McConnell turned in quality off the bench with 10 points.
Knick fans wanted Friday’s matchup to be different at Madison Square Garden, but it finds its team down 0-2 and heading to Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indiana for games three and four. If the Pacers can take one contest at home, it will make quick work of New York.
Stephen M. Smith is a writer for Ball Exclusives. You can follow him on X via @CoachingMSmith.
