May 24, 2025 | New York City — The Indiana Pacers are now just two wins away from their first NBA Finals appearance in 25 years, thanks to a masterclass performance by Pascal Siakam, who dropped a playoff career-high 39 points in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Indiana edged past the New York Knicks 114-109 at Madison Square Garden on Friday night, taking a commanding 2-0 series lead.
Siakam, a 2019 NBA champion with the Toronto Raptors, was unstoppable from the outset, scoring Indiana’s first 11 points and setting the tone for the rest of the night. His offensive dominance filled the void left by the Pacers’ lack of scoring depth—no other Pacer made more than five field goals.
“Special game,” said head coach Rick Carlisle. “In the first half, he was the guy that got us going. It’s hard to score like that when defenses are that physical, but he delivered.”
Alongside Siakam’s standout performance, Myles Turner added 16 points, and Tyrese Haliburton posted a near triple-double with 14 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds. The Pacers have now won six straight games on the road—an impressive feat for any playoff team—and return to Indiana for Game 3 with home court advantage and momentum fully on their side.
Knicks Come Up Short Despite Brunson’s Heroics
Jalen Brunson once again shouldered the offensive load for New York, finishing with 36 points and 11 assists. Despite his efforts and a late 9-0 run that pulled the Knicks within one point with just 14 seconds remaining, New York couldn’t complete the comeback.
Two clutch free throws each from Aaron Nesmith and Turner, sandwiched around a missed Brunson three-pointer, sealed the win for Indiana. The Knicks now face a daunting task—no team in NBA history has come back from an 0-2 deficit in the Conference Finals after losing both games at home, according to the Associated Press.
Focused on the Present
Despite being on the verge of making franchise history, Siakam emphasized staying grounded. “We’ve got a long way to go, and it’s only gonna get tougher,” said the Cameroonian forward. “We’re not thinking about the Finals. We’re thinking about Game 3.”
Game 3 is set for Sunday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, capping off what will be a blockbuster sports day in the state, with the iconic Indy 500 taking place earlier that afternoon.
As the Knicks look to reset and regroup, the Pacers will aim to maintain their rhythm and edge ever closer to a historic NBA Finals return.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
