This time, Tyrese Halliburton didn’t make the Knicks suffer.
I mean, it wasn’t about Aaron Nesmith lighting it up in the fourth quarter or Andrew Nembhard hitting a clutch shot.
Let’s call it Pascal Siakam’s game.
He had one of the standout performances of his career during the Knicks’ 114-108 loss in Game 2 at Madison Square Garden on Friday.
With 39 points on 23-of-15 shooting, it was not just a great postseason showing but also his best of the entire season.
Siakam thrived in transition, while the Knicks struggled to find their rhythm.
Pacers took a tough stance with 14 fast break points, and Siakam consistently penetrated their defense, keeping the Knicks on the back foot.
OG Anunoby had a tough time keeping up with Siakam, who, while a key part of the 2019 Raptors Championship, has often been a supporting player in Indiana.
When he brings that sort of energy, the ceiling for the Pacers really goes up.
Though he was a bit quieter in the fourth quarter, he made a pivotal offensive rebound when the Knicks were trailing 106-99, drawing a foul.
He calmly sank both free throws, pushing the Knicks’ deficit to 108-99 with just 3:32 left in the game.
Then, following a few possessions, he exploited the Knicks again—leaking out in transition, snagging a perfect pass from Halliburton, and finishing at the rim to extend the lead to 110-100 with 2:45 remaining.
On the defensive end, Siakam did a solid job keeping Anunoby to just 16 points, particularly after Anunoby had a strong start in the first quarter.
