It wasn’t Tyrese Haliburton torturing the Knicks this time. It wasn’t Aaron Nesmith erupting in the fourth quarter again. It wasn’t Andrew Nembhard hitting back-breaking shots.
Call it the Pascal Siakam game.
He delivered one of the best performances of his career in the Knicks’ 114-109 Game 2 loss to the Pacers Friday night at Madison Square Garden.
He finished with 39 points on 15-for-23 shooting from the field — by far his most of the postseason.
It was his highest of the entire season as well.
Pascal Siakam delivered a big Game 2 performance for the Pacers on May 23, 2025. Jason Szenes / New York Post“That’s why we brought him here,” Haliburton said of Siakam. “That’s what he’s here to do. He can get a bucket in so many different ways. He started the game hot, we just kept feeding him. He did a good job of making big shot after big shot after big shot.
“Killing momentum, I think when you’re in an environment like this, the crowd is getting into it. A lot of those shots can be backbreakers at times. He just kept making big play after big play. He was amazing for us. A big reason why we won today.”
Siakam thrives in transition, and the Knicks were a mess in that department Friday night.
The Pacers finished with 14 fastbreak points — seven more than the Knicks.
Siakam constantly leaked out on defensive possessions and beat the Knicks down the floor.
Pascal Siakam of the Indiana Pacers shoots a 3-point basket during the game against the New York Knicks during Game 2 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals on May 23, 2025 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NBAE via Getty ImagesOG Anunoby primarily matched up against Siakam and struggled. Josh Hart spent time on him as well.
“He knocked down shots,” Hart said. “He’s a good player. He didn’t have a huge offensive game, Game 1. He came out aggressive and shots were falling for him.”
Siakam was a key part of the Raptors’ championship win in 2019 but has often been more of a complimentary piece in Indiana.
Pascal Siakam goes up for a layup in Game 2. Jason Szenes / New York Post
When he plays like he did Friday night, it elevates the Pacers’ ceiling incredibly.
He was quieter in the fourth quarter, but with the Knicks trailing 106-99, Siakam grabbed a key offensive rebound and was fouled.
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He hit both free throws to extend the Knicks’ deficit to 108-99 with 3:32 left in the game.
Then a few possessions later, he hurt the Knicks the way he did all game — leaking out in transition, getting a perfect leading pass from Haliburton and finishing at the rim to give the Pacers a 110-100 lead with 2:45 left in the game.
Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) reacts during the third quarter of Game 2 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference final against the New York Knicks, Friday, May 23, 2025, in New York. AP“A compilation of everything — transition, half court, space,” Thibodeau said. “We got to do a better job on that.”
