Siakam Sears Knicks for 39, Pacers Take 2-0 Lead to Indianapolis

The Indiana Pacers prevailed in another close game on Friday night in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, defeating the New York Knicks 114-109 behind 39 points from Pascal Siakam. 

Siakam scored 16 first quarter points and finished with 23 in the first half and was scoring on jump shots in the paint and slashing well all game long. He was 9-for-14 at halftime as the Knicks led 51-49 behind Jalen Brunson’s 17 points on 6-for-11 shooting. Karl-Anthony Towns made 4-of-8 for 12 points in the opening half as the Knicks shot 47.5% and the Pacers shot 47.6%. The Knicks committed one less turnover than the Pacers in the opening half, seven to eight.

The 2019 NBA champion Siakam, no stranger to pressure moments and big games, continued his strong play in the second half, scoring on a layup with 6:59 remaining in the third for his 27th and 28th points as the Pacers took a 64-59 lead.

Then both teams went back and forth. 

Andrew Nembhard scored on a jump shot inside to make the score 66-61 Indiana. OG Anunoby connected on a triple. 66-64. Tyrese Haliburton hit a step-back triple. Towns responded with his own trifecta. 69-67 Pacers. 

With 4:01 remaining in the third, a Jalen Brunson three tied the game at 70 and led to a Pacer timeout. 

T.J. McConnell then turned up his play, with a jump shot and inside finish along with a pass to Siakam for a jam to give the Pacers a 78-77 lead with 1:18 remaining in the third. Knick timeout. 

Siakam spun in the post and finished for his 31st and 32nd points. 81-79. To end the third, Brunson scored on an up and under. Both teams were locked at 81 entering the final frame. After 36 minutes, there had been 16 ties and 17 lead changes. Brunson was 10-for-20 shooting for 26 points and 9 assists. 

The Pacers went on an 11-2 run early in the fourth, with Ben Sheppard and Pascal Siakam hitting from deep to put the Pacers up nine, 94-85. Siakam’s triple gave him 30 points. 

After Aaron Nesmith connected from the corner, Brunson splashed a triple to make the score 97-92. Myles Turner, at the line, made one of two free-throws but followed his own miss, giving the Pacers a 100-94 lead. 

Mikal Bridges (20 points, 9-for-18, 7 rebounds) had some success scoring in the lane on the night, and one of his jump shots, a fadeaway inside, got the Knicks within three at 100-97. Myles Turner responded with a corner triple. Haliburton drilled a three. A Siakam free-throw with 3:23 remaining gave him 37 points, a new playoff career-high. Brunson missed. Haliburton found a streaking Siakam down court with an on-the-money pass for a finish. 110-100 Pacers. 39 points for Siakam.    

Five quick points by Brunson made the score 110-107, and a Josh Hart lay in off of a nice find from Brunson got the Knicks within one, 110-109.   

Nesmith, fouled by Brunson with 14.7 seconds remaining, made both of his free-throws. 112-109. Brunson missed on what would have been a game-tying triple. Turner rebounded and made both of his free-throws. 

With the 114-109 victory, the Pacers put on two Tony Award-worthy performances in NYC in Games 1 and 2. The game was their sixth in their last six playoff road games, and they currently sport a 10-2 record in this year’s playoffs. 

Siakam, with 39 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists (15-for-23 shooting) led the Pacers, while Turner scored 16 points with 2 blocks on 5-for-10 shooting and 5-for-7 from the line. Just 1-for-4 from downtown, you would like to see Turner being more aggressive in using his size inside, though he is a capable shooter from deep. Haliburton missed 11 of his 16 attempts, but dished out 11 assists with 8 rebounds and 14 rebounds in his 35 minutes. Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard scored 12 points apiece on a combined 9-for-15. McConnell off the bench in his 14 minutes was 5-for-8 for 10 points. 

Collectively, the Pacers shot 51.8%, and made 13-of-30 from downtown. They made 15-of-21 from the line with 32 rebounds (the Knicks collected 36 rebounds). Though they were outrebounded, the Pacers committed two less turnovers, 10 to the Pacers’ 12. 

Brunson was the high man for the Knicks with 36 points and 11 assists (13-for-27, 5-for-12 from deep). Towns scored 20 and had 7 rebounds on 6-of-14 shooting. Anunoby was 6-for-11 for 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals. 

The Knicks shot 47.6% and 11-of-32 from the 3-point line. They made 18-of-21 free-throws. 

 Through the first two games of the series, the Pacers’ poise has been perfect. They do not seem to get rattled, and though Brunson has put up his numbers, Nesmith has made him work for his points. 

Siakam’s primetime performance in Game 2, where he was the best player on the floor, is an indication of how good he can be in any game. The Knicks will need someone other the Brunson to step up in a similar role and win them a game in this series. 

Preferably and urgently, tomorrow night at 8:00 p.m. in Game 3 from Indianapolis.