In an impressive display, Pascal Siakam led the Indiana Pacers to a crucial victory over the New York Knicks with a 39-point performance, his best in the playoffs. The final score was 114-109 in favor of the Pacers, who now lead the Eastern Conference series 2-0.
Myles Turner contributed 16 points, while Tyrese Haliburton added 14 points, 11 assists, and 8 rebounds. The Pacers, seeking their second appearance in the NBA Finals, are halfway to achieving their goal.
The next game, Game 3, will be played in Indiana on Sunday. The Pacers have proven to be formidable away from home, accumulating six consecutive road wins since their loss in Milwaukee in the third game of the first round.
Knicks Fight for Comeback
Jalen Brunson of the Knicks scored 36 points and dished out 11 assists, but his efforts were not enough to avoid the defeat. The Knicks need a quick recovery if they want to extend their first conference finals appearance in 25 years.
Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns each scored 20 points, but Towns had limited participation with only 28 minutes of play. Coach Tom Thibodeau chose to give more time to Mitchell Robinson, who had an outstanding defensive performance and grabbed nine rebounds.
The game remained tied until the end of the third quarter, with a score of 81-81. The Pacers started the last quarter with a 13-4 run, led by a three-pointer from Siakam, which gave them a 94-85 lead with 9:17 remaining.
The Knicks managed to close the gap in the score, but the Pacers maintained their lead, reaching an advantage of 110-100 with 2:45 remaining. The Knicks scored nine consecutive points, closing in to 110-109 with a basket by Josh Hart with 14 seconds left.
Aaron Nesmith secured the victory for the Pacers with two free throws, while Brunson missed a three-point attempt and Turner sealed the win with two more free throws.
This encounter, the 50th in the history of the playoffs between both teams, reflected the defensive intensity of the matchups of the 1990s, with the Pacers leading the series 28-22 since 1993.
Indiana quickly took the lead with a score of 19-9, but the Knicks managed to get closer with the entry of Robinson and Deuce McBride, keeping the game close for most of the night.
