The Indiana Pacers continued their steep uphill Eastern Conference semifinal against the New York Knicks on Wednesday night. The Pacers lost Game 2 of the series 130-121 after a hard-fought matchup. Several factors played into Indiana’s demise, but the play of Myles Turner, Pascal Siakam, and the team’s shooting woes must be reflected upon.
Indiana entered Game 2 with fire after losing the first game of the series by just four points. The Pacers appeared to have an advantage over the Knicks after taking a 10-point lead going into halftime. However, the Knicks rallied off the performances of Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, and Donte DiVincenzo.
Brunson has been the Pacers’ Achilles heel. The star guard erupted for a 43-point performance to help put Indiana away in Game 1. He experienced a foot injury scare during the first half of Game 2 but returned and provided stout production. Brunson ended the night with 29 points, five assists, and two rebounds.
Brunson led New York in scoring on Wednesday night, but he had plenty of help. OG Anunoby and Donte DiVincenzo each amassed 28 points apiece and had serviceable defensive performances. Another thorn in the Pacers’ side was Josh Hart, who garnered a 19-point-15-rebound performance.
New York’s combined effort held the Pacers to 51.6 percent from the field, which a not a bad number, but it came up short compared to Indiana’s 57.0 percent mark. Nevertheless, one of the most notable culprits of Indiana’s defeat was their free-throw shooting.
The Pacers shot a lowly 58.8 percent from the stripe, while the Knicks nailed 81.8 percent of attempts. In the end, Indiana lost by nine points. Had they made more free throws, they would have had a better chance of overcoming their deficit. Speaking of deficits, Myles Turner did not have his best night on Wednesday.
Myles Turner has to keep producing for the Pacers to be successful
Turner is one of Indiana’s biggest X factors. He entered Game 2 fresh off an impressive 23-point performance in Game 1. However, he did not reach those same heights Wednesday night. Turner finished with one of the lowest-scoring performances of the Pacer starters with six points.
If Indiana wants to overcome New York’s gritty offense, they will need Turner to keep his production high.
Turner has shown the ability to score close to 20 points a game consistently. He averaged 17.1 points per contest during the 2023-24 regular season. His ability to stretch the floor is a valued asset that he must continue to take advantage of. The ninth-year center attempted two threes in Game 2 but missed the mark on both.
Surely, Turner will find a way to heat up as the Pacers prepare for Game 3. The star center is not the only one who will have something to prove. Pascal Siakam had a solid showing but left more to be desired.
The Pacers need Pascal Siakam now more than ever
Indiana traded for Pascal Siakam shortly before the February deadline. His arrival was supposed to help push the Pacers over the top, and for the most part, he has helped the team stay afloat. Yet, he is capable of producing more than he has in the first two games against the Knicks.
In Game 1, Siakam scored an earnest 19 points and followed the performance up with 14 on Wednesday night. Both of Siakam’s scoring displays were below his season average of 21.7 points. The star forward has championship experience and could massively elevate Indiana’s offense with an improved showing.
Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner are not the only ones looking to improve for Game 3. Aaron Nesmith only amassed six points on Wednesday night. It will take an all-around team effort to rally and combat the Knicks’ attack. Nevertheless, the Pacers have what it takes to regain momentum.
