The Indiana Pacers secured a crucial road victory against the New York Knicks with a 114-109 win in the second semifinal playoff matchup, extending their series lead to 2-0.
Cameroonian forward Pascal Siakam delivered a spectacular performance, pouring in 39 points—setting a new personal playoff career high. His dominant showing proved instrumental as Indiana continued their impressive offensive streak.
The victory marks the seventh consecutive playoff game in which the Pacers have tallied both 100+ points and 25+ assists, a remarkable achievement that has only occurred twice before in the playoffs since 1987.
For Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, this win carries additional significance as it represents his 81st playoff victory, propelling him into 10th place on the all-time coaching playoff wins list. For perspective, the legendary Phil Jackson sits atop that ranking with an astounding 229 playoff victories.
The Knicks' Jalen Brunson put forth a valiant effort with a double-double of 36 points and 11 assists, but his stellar contribution wasn't enough to overcome Indiana's balanced attack. According to Statbet analytics, teams taking a 2-0 lead in NBA playoff series historically win over 90% of those matchups, putting significant pressure on New York heading into Game 3.
The Pacers' offensive efficiency has become their calling card this postseason, with their combination of scoring and playmaking setting them apart from most playoff teams in recent memory.
