Siakam’s 39 Stuns MSG, Gives Pacers 2-0 Lead Over Knicks
The Indiana Pacers defeated the New York Knicks 114–109 at Madison Square Garden in Game Two, Friday night. Pascal Siakam’s playoff career high, 39-point night, fueled Indiana’s sixth road victory of these playoffs. Despite entering the fourth quarter tied at 81, New York never captured the lead in the final 12 minutes. Indiana’s 11-2 fourth-quarter run proved to be too much, as the Knicks fell just short after Jalen Brunson’s missed game-tying three in the final seconds.
Where Does New York Go From Here?
NBA teams are 60–6 when leading 2–0 in the Conference Finals, and only five teams have ever recovered from dropping the first two games at home in the NBA Playoffs. For New York to overcome the odds, they're going to need to correct their Game One and Game Two fourth-quarter performances. Despite Brunson’s 36 points, New York never gained the lead in the 4th quarter after leading 52–49 at halftime. Knicks superstar Karl-Anthony Towns played just five minutes and took only one shot in the fourth quarter, finishing with just 20 points in 28 minutes. Head Coach Tom Thibodeau has come under fire recently for playing just seven players above eleven minutes in Games One and Two, leading to questions of fatigue. Despite dropping both games at home in the final minute, New York must remain optimistic about their chances in this series.
Looking Towards Game Three
Two games into another installment of the Knicks-Pacers rivalry, the series heads to Indiana for Game Three in Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday night. In a must-win, New York will need to make some adjustments to their rotation to be able to keep pace for the full 48 minutes versus the fast-paced Pacers. Losing Game Three would put them on the brink of elimination, as no team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit in the NBA Playoffs. Indiana looks to put themselves one game away from their second NBA Finals appearance. Sunday’s Game Three matchup in Indiana could define the Knicks’ season, or add another chapter to the Pacers’ historic playoff run.
