Pivotal Night for Pascal Siakam and the Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers aren’t a team packed with superstars, but Pascal Siakam has made it clear they have at least one who can seize the biggest moments. Siakam put together a gutsy 21-point outing in Game 5 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He went 8-of-20 shooting, chipped in eight rebounds, handed out five assists, and still had enough gas for a block and a steal over his 40 hard-played minutes. The Pacers pulled away late, finishing with a 114-105 victory and earning a ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Unlike some NBA stars who are all offense or defense, Siakam’s real value is how many pressure points he hits for a defense. He doesn’t just score. Throughout the five-game series, he averaged 17.8 points on a blistering 53.7% shooting and knocked down 43.7% of his threes. Add in his averages of 6.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game, and it’s easy to see why Cleveland just couldn’t find an answer. His ability to create shots for others worked wonders for Indiana’s balanced attack, especially when the Cavaliers turned up the heat. Siakam found the open man—or, just as often, broke down the defense himself. On the other end, he switched assignments seamlessly, showing the kind of defensive smarts and hustle playoff teams dream about.
Anyone watching the series will remember not just Game 5, but when Siakam caught fire with a 23-point first half back in Game 2 or his ice-cold calm in Game 4, where he put up another 21 points and snatched six boards. Yes, Tyrese Haliburton and other Pacers stepped up, but Siakam’s fingerprints were all over the series. His playoff experience—three NBA All-Star trips, a championship ring with the 2019 Toronto Raptors—was obvious. That mentality and versatility are exactly why the Pacers made the move for him halfway through the season, even if it meant shaking up their core.
Looking Ahead: Pacers Wait for Next Challenge
With the Cavaliers now sent home, the question for Indiana is who they’ll face next: the Boston Celtics or the New York Knicks. That’s no small matter—both teams are stacked—but right now the Indiana Pacers have to feel confident. Their mix of young energy and Siakam’s big-game know-how is working. In a postseason filled with unpredictable moments, Siakam isn’t just holding steady. He’s setting the tone.
No matter who comes next, Game 5 was a reminder that sometimes one player can raise a team’s ceiling. For the Pacers, Siakam’s blend of scoring, playmaking, and all-out defense gave them what they needed to break through a tough Cavaliers squad and move within reach of the NBA Finals.
