The Indiana Pacers defeated the New York Knicks 114-109 in Sport 2 on Friday night time to take a 2-0 lead within the sequence.
Pascal Siakam completed with 39 factors on 15-of-23 capturing from the sphere.
“That is why we introduced him right here,” mentioned Tyrese Haliburton after the sport. “That is what he is right here to do. He can get a bucket in so many various methods.”
Siakam scored the Pacers’ first 11 factors within the sport whereas ending with 17 factors within the first quarter.
It was additionally Siakam’s third profession playoff sport with the Pacers of scoring 35 or extra factors.
Siakam mentioned that it was necessary to keep up levity all through the sequence.
“You may’t experience a wave,” he mentioned. “Cannot get too excessive with the highs, cannot get too low with the lows. I simply recognize the chance that I’ve right here to have a bunch of fellows that they need to hear my voice.”
Haliburton added 14 factors and 11 assists. Myles Turner completed with 16 factors, scoring 13 within the fourth quarter.
Rick Carlisle echoed Siakam in saying that the sequence is way from over forward of Sunday’s Sport 3.
“There are lots of traps right here,” Carlisle mentioned. “You can’t assume going house goes to be simpler. It by no means is. Every sport as you ascend in a playoff sequence turns into more durable.”