Knicks vs. Pacers Game 2: Pacers Take 2-0 Lead After Siakam Outshines Brunson at MSG
Pacers Edge Out Knicks in Game 2, Take Commanding Series Lead
Madison Square Garden was buzzing on Friday night, but the energy wasn’t enough to get the New York Knicks over the hump. With a storming performance from Pascal Siakam, the Indiana Pacers grabbed a 114-109 win in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, sending Knicks fans home worried as the series heads to Indianapolis. The Pacers now stand just two wins away from the NBA Finals.
The game was a nail-biter from tip-off to final buzzer. The Knicks clawed back from double-digit deficits to make it a one-point game in the dying seconds. Hope flickered at MSG, but the Pacers kept their cool. Fouled on back-to-back possessions, Indiana iced the game from the free-throw line. The loss stings even more for New York fans, given this is the Knicks’ first trip to the Eastern Conference Finals since the turn of the century.
Siakam Shines, Brunson Battles
No one could take their eyes off Pascal Siakam. The Pacers’ forward was on a mission, scoring 39 points, shooting 15 of 23 from the field, and grabbing boards in key moments. Siakam’s blend of power and finesse overwhelmed the Knicks’ defense, especially in crunch time. His performance set the tone for Indiana—a team that just looks fearless with a lead.
Across from him, Jalen Brunson did everything he could to keep New York in striking distance. Brunson exploded for 36 points and dished out 11 assists, weaving through defenders and making tough shots look easy. He’s been spectacular all postseason, averaging nearly 29 points and just under 8 assists per game, but it wasn’t enough this time around. The Knicks’ supporting cast struggled to hit big shots when it mattered most.
Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers’ All-Star point guard, didn’t have a monstrous scoring night, yet his presence held the offense together. The Pacers showed why they’re one of the most balanced playoff teams, with eight Indiana players having averaged at least seven points in the last round against Cleveland.
For Indy, this is their second straight conference finals appearance. Their experience is showing—in the hustle plays, the calm in tight stretches, and in getting stops down the stretch. For a Knicks squad that stunned just about everyone by toppling the Boston Celtics, the mountain keeps getting steeper.
Now, the focus shifts to Games 3 and 4, both in Indiana’s roaring Gainbridge Fieldhouse. New York faces a do-or-die situation. If the Knicks go down 3-0, they’ll join a list of teams that almost never rally back. Expect the pressure to mount. Fans are restless. The Pacers, meanwhile, are playing with the confidence of a group that believes the Finals stage is coming next.
