Pacers Take 2-0 Eastern Finals Lead Over Knicks with Siakam's 39 Points

The Indiana Pacers took a commanding 2-0 lead over the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals with a 114-109 victory in Game 2, largely thanks to Pascal Siakam's playoff career-high 39 points. Despite Jalen Brunson's strong performance of 36 points and 11 assists, the Knicks struggled to recover after falling behind early in the fourth quarter. The Pacers' success on the road, now 6-1 this season, was bolstered by balanced scoring from all starters and effective paint attacks that exposed the Knicks' smaller guards. Karl-Anthony Towns' limited impact compared to backup Mitchell Robinson, who contributed defensively, was a point of concern for the Knicks. The Knicks, who have not been in the conference finals for 25 years, will try to rebound in Game 3 at home, facing tough odds as teams up 2-0 in a best-of-seven series historically win over 92% of the time. Coach Tom Thibodeau emphasized focusing on building good habits and responding to challenges despite the setbacks.