We may have found the Pacers' attacking game last night, but Pascal Siakam simply resumed his work where he had left it. Already very good during Game 1 against the Bucks (36 points, 13 rebounds), the power forward did it again on Tuesday to offer victory to his team and put the two teams back to back before returning to Indianapolis. Dominant, Pascal Siakam was also the detonator of the Pacers' heat in the last quarter to seal the match.
The former Raptor took advantage of the new absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo to impose his paw, between low post technique and ability to spread the game. Bleeding in the first period (21 points, 7 rebounds at the break), Pascal Siakam was the author of an 8-0 alone in two minutes to put his team at distance, from 92-88 to 100-88 nine minutes from the end of the game. On the momentum of their Cameroonian interior, the Pacers hit the nail on the head bringing the series to 23-4 to break away for good.
“ We must be the team that is hungry » he reacted. “ We have to be the team that goes on the pitch and wants to show something. This is the attitude we must have against these players, because they have already done it in the past. »
Like Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor
With his 37 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists, Pascal Siakam not only delivered a very good performance, but also invited himself into closed circles. He thus joins Reggie Miller as the only player in Indiana history to string together two outings with at least 35 points. 35 points and 10 rebounds minimum two games in a row to start the playoffs? Only Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain had been capable of this in the history of the NBA!
He even becomes the first to accumulate in a match at least 35 points at 65% shooting, 10 rebounds, 5 assists without committing any lost balls in the entire history of the playoffs.
It was necessary to sign the first victory away from these 2024 final stages, before being imitated a few hours later by the Mavericks at the Clippers. This 125-108 success ends a series of 10 consecutive losses in the playoffs for Indiana.
“ I'm lucky to be here » estimated Pascal Siakam at NBA TV. “ I didn't make the playoffs last season, and so that was my goal coming here this year. I have the privilege to be part of an organization like the Pacers, they gave me everything. Their love is exceptional, so I'm doing great. We're in the playoffs, that's where I belong. So I want to keep fighting. »
“Spicy P” new leader of the Pacers
Fighting yes, but in Siakam style, all in control, even when the Bucks were back on the heels of these young Pacers at the start of the fourth quarter, the same ones who had been totally overwhelmed in Game 1.
“ His playoff experience is so valuable » rejoiced coach Rick Carlisle. “ Pascal is not the type of guy who is going to let anything faze him, not once since January when we got him back. He's someone people confide in, someone they turn to. He has established himself as a veteran, a leader and a mentor of sorts because he knows these situations. »
The Pacers will now have to master a new one, that of being a favorable waiver at 1-1 and two home games to follow.
