The Indiana Pacers edged out the New York Knicks in a tightly contested Game 2, with Paul George-less lineup struggling to find consistent offense. Meanwhile, Pascal Siakam had an explosive performance for the Pacers, scoring 39 points and displaying his versatility on both ends of the court. Despite a strong showing from Jalen Brunson, who drew double teams frequently, the Knicks were unable to contain Siakam’s attack.
In a closely watched matchup, Coach Rick Carlisle’s decision to shuffle his rotation when reserve players struggled proved pivotal in securing a crucial win for the Pacers. The team showed resilience by adapting their strategy and getting big contributions from bench players like Malcolm Brogdon and Sam Presti.
The Knicks’ inability to secure a convincing victory against the Pacers will have implications heading into Game 3, with Jalen Brunson facing increased pressure as his primary playmaker. Can he find ways to unlock the defense that has stumped him so far? The battle between two top playoff contenders is set to intensify in this ongoing series.
The success of the Pacers’ offense was largely driven by Pascal Siakam’s incredible display, which saw him outscoring the Knicks’ top scorers. Despite being double-teamed frequently, he consistently found ways to get open and score. The Pacers’ bench also showed significant improvement as they secured a crucial win in this series.
The matchup between two of the NBA’s top teams promises much for the remaining games in this series. Can either side replicate their performance from Game 2? Or will another team step up and challenge for supremacy?
Source: https://www.nba.com/news/knicks-pacers-takeaways-game-2-2025-nba-playoffs