The Eastern Conference Finals between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers feature two franchises that haven’t reached the NBA Finals since 1999 and 2000, respectively.
Both teams are relatively young and lack championship experience. In fact, only one current rotation player between the Knicks and Pacers has ever played in the NBA Finals—and it shows.
Indiana’s Pascal Siakam, a 2019 NBA champion with the Toronto Raptors, is that player. In Game 2 of the East Finals, he reminded everyone that he is no stranger to moments like this.
Coming off their emotional Game 1 win, the rest of the Pacers started slow and leaned heavily on Siakam to carry them early. The 31-year-old forward poured in 16 points in the first quarter and had 23 by halftime to keep Indiana within striking distance. Despite being a one-man show in the first half, the Pacers trailed by only three, 52-49.
Siakam continued his stellar play in the third quarter, hitting all four of his field goals during the period. The rest of the Pacers finally found their rhythm in the fourth, and Indiana extended its lead to nine, 94-87, on a Siakam three-pointer with 9:17 remaining. A few minutes later, he pushed the lead to a game-high 10, 110-100, with just 2:45 left on the clock.
The Knicks made one final push and had several chances to tie the game in the closing seconds, but couldn’t convert. Indiana held on for a 114-109 win that would not have been possible without Siakam, who finished with a playoff career-high 39 points on 15-of-23 shooting, along with five rebounds, three assists, and a steal. Without him, the Pacers wouldn’t have kept pace with New York, and the value of his championship experience, recognizing the need to tow the rest of his team, was never more evident.
The series now shifts to Indiana for the next two games, giving the Pacers a golden opportunity to close things out at home. The Knicks won’t go down quietly, but if Siakam continues to perform at this level and the rest of the roster finds some semblance of consistency, Indiana will be tough to beat.
Six years ago, Siakam was a rising young forward in Toronto’s title run. Today, he’s now the seasoned veteran leading Indiana’s charge through the East. From Cameroon to the cusp of another Finals berth, his journey has been remarkable—and it’s not over just yet.
