Game 2 Victory Confirms It: The Pacers Are Legitimate Contenders!

NEW YORK — Perhaps you were uncertain about Indiana’s chances. Maybe you overlooked their initial victory against a Bucks team lacking Damian Lillard for most of the series. Perhaps you wrote off the Cavaliers as deficient. Maybe you doubted a team without a headline star, a team that relies on a surprisingly deep bench, could ever reach the Finals.

So, has your opinion changed now?

The Pacers now hold a strong 2–0 advantage in the Eastern Conference finals following their narrow 114–109 victory over the Knicks in Game 2 on Friday. Unlike the thrilling finish of Game 1, this game followed a more traditional pattern with 17 lead changes and the game tied on 17 occasions. The score was locked at 81–81 at the beginning of the fourth quarter before Indiana pulled away with a 33–28 run to seal the deal.

“This game was a lot closer in many respects,” acknowledged Pacers coach Rick Carlisle. “I think our players maintained their composure very well.”

While Aaron Nesmith was the highlight of Game 1, Pascal Siakam took center stage in Game 2. Siakam dominated the first half, scoring 23 of his 39 points while Tyrese Haliburton struggled.

“This is exactly why we brought him on board,” Haliburton remarked about Siakam. “That’s his role.”

Indeed, since his trade from Toronto last season, Siakam has been a key player for Indiana, averaging 21 points over 41 games last season and 20 points across 78 games this season, earning the team’s only All-Star selection. Despite struggling with three-point shots last postseason at 29.8%, he has significantly improved to 41.7% in these playoffs, including making 3 out of 4 from beyond the arc on Friday night.

“I just took what was available,” Siakam stated simply.

That sums up the Indiana Pacers. Anyone on the team can take charge, from starters to bench players. In Game 2, the Pacers utilized 11 players, including rarely used center Tony Bradley, who contributed eight valuable minutes off the bench. Ben Sheppard had a bench-high plus-8, adding six points in 12 minutes.

“What makes us special as a team is our variety of options,” Siakam explained. “It’s not about who does what; we just play the game as it unfolds. It doesn’t matter who scores.”

Fear is not a factor for Indiana. Few venues can rival the electric atmosphere of a playoff game in New York. Madison Square Garden was pulsating with energy. A crowd desperate for a championship was fully engaged, and the sidelines were packed with celebrities like Ben Stiller, Timothée Chalamet, Michael J. Fox, and Michael Strahan. Where most cities might feature Quick Change or Red Panda as halftime entertainment, in New York, it was Mary J. Blige.

The energy was palpable on Friday. Indiana matched it step for step. They were down by three at halftime but caught up by the end of the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, four Pacers players each scored at least three points, with Myles Turner leading with 13 points to close out the game.

“It’s truly remarkable how diverse our group is, with so many individuals stepping up,” Haliburton noted.

Haliburton has been on an impressive run. Despite struggling with his shooting in Game 2 (only 5-of-16 from the floor), he managed 11 assists and was just two rebounds short of a triple-double. Recalling their first meeting after Haliburton was traded from Sacramento in 2022, Coach Carlisle remembered telling him that the team would be in his hands.

“I asked if he was ready to take charge of the team, to make the necessary play calls whenever needed,” Carlisle said.

Haliburton’s response was one of eager anticipation.

“He was visibly excited,” Carlisle recalled. “He showed great enthusiasm for the role.”

Haliburton’s performance has justified Carlisle’s trust, while Indiana has pushed New York to the edge. The Knicks have previously succeeded on the road—they claimed two victories in Boston in the previous round—but now face a critical period of introspection. Karl-Anthony Towns had a particularly tough Game 2, scoring 20 points on 6-of-14 shooting and ending the game with the worst plus-minus on the team. He played just five minutes in the crucial fourth quarter, as Coach Tom Thibodeau chose a visibly exhausted Mitchell Robinson over Towns for the final stretch. New York allowed Indiana to shoot 52% from the field and 43% from three-point range.

“We need to make better, more victorious plays,” Thibodeau emphasized.

Jalen Brunson added, “The turnaround starts tomorrow … we all need to pull together.”

Yet that might not be sufficient. There’s a grounded confidence in Indiana. “Day 3 of 13,” noted Carlisle, emphasizing the need to stay focused and not get ahead of themselves. There was excitement about returning home to play Game 3 on Sunday, just hours after the renowned Indianapolis 500 concludes nearby. “It’s going to be a lively crowd,” Haliburton predicted. “Possibly a bit tipsy. It’s going to be quite the experience.”

For the fans, it will be enjoyable. For the Pacers, not just yet. In the Indiana locker room on Friday, there was no overt celebration. A few cheers broke out around Bradley during the media gathering. Haliburton and Sheppard shared some smiles. Their responses to questions remained cautious. “One game at a time,” Nesmith stated. Sheppard added, “We all trust each other. Never too high, never too low.” Then it was time for plates of catered pasta from Carbone and a short walk to the team bus.

A plane awaited to take them back to Indiana.

And they hope it’s for the last time this series.