Pascal Siakam Wows NBA Fans as Haliburton, Pacers Beat Lillard, Bucks Without Giannis

Featured Columnist IVApril 24, 2024

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 23: Pascal Siakam #43 of the Indiana Pacers drives around Damian Lillard #0 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half of game two of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at Fiserv Forum on April 23, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Damian Lillard helped the Milwuakee Bucks steal Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday without Giannis Antetokounmpo available. Pascal Siakam one-upped him on Tuesday.

The star forward popped off in Game 2, posting 37 points, 11 rebounds and six assists during Indiana's 125-108 win over the Bucks.

Indiana Pacers @Pacers
Pascal Siakam is cookin' ♨️ his back-to-back buckets force a timeout. he's up to 37 points. <a href="https://t.co/aCvlOxtvO4">pic.twitter.com/aCvlOxtvO4</a>

Indiana Pacers @Pacers
Tyrese Haliburton with the halfcourt lob to Pascal Siakam 😮‍💨 <a href="https://t.co/bqpL87jd0k">pic.twitter.com/bqpL87jd0k</a>

StatMuse @statmuse
Pacers with back-to-back 35-point playoff games: Reggie Miller Pascal Siakam <a href="https://t.co/jSKqmsF3GV">pic.twitter.com/jSKqmsF3GV</a>

Keerthika Uthayakumar @keerthikau
Pascal Siakam is the first player with back-to-back 30-point double-doubles in the playoffs in Pacer franchise history. He's already tied Paul George for most 30-point doubles-doubles in a single playoffs in franchise history. IT'S GAME 2.

Milwaukee, who was without Antetokounmpo yet again, was led by a strong performance from Dame (34 points, five assists) and Brook Lopez (22 points), but it wasn't enough to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the series.

Instead, Siakam and Myles Turner (22 points, seven boards, six assists, three blocks) led a resurgent performance to even the series for Indiana. Those efforts were needed on a night where Tyrese Haliburton struggled to contribute as a scorer, finishing 4-of-10 from the field for 12 points, though he did add 12 assists.

But Siakam was the story, and fans and pundits on social media praised his big night:

Kevin O'Connor @KevinOConnorNBA
Pascal Siakam's offensive versatility was put on display tonight. Did it all. Spot-up 3s, attacking closeouts, post ups, handoffs, transition sprints. Sensational performance for the Pacers.

Kendrick Perkins @KendrickPerkins
The Bucks film session needs to be based around one person and one person only and that's Siakam… because he's been busting Milwaukee ass these first 2 games!

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Tyler Brooke @TylerDBrooke
Pascal. Freaking. Siakam.

Mike Chappell @mchappell51
Siakam is so smooth. Elite scorer.

Nate Jones @JonesOnTheNBA
You see why that trade was necessary. He can play playoff ball. Giannis in the lineup solves a lot of the Siakam problem, but against most teams he's going to have an advantage at the 4 in the playoffs <a href="https://t.co/RVVKctMHub">https://t.co/RVVKctMHub</a>

James Boyd @RomeovilleKid
Pascal Siakam dominates on offense in the most regular way. Lol none of it looks all that spectacular, but then you look at the box score and he's BBQed every defender.

Stephen Holder @HolderStephen
What I love about the Pacers' performance tonight: 1) ELITE ball movement, reminiscent of what they did regularly before the All-Star break 2) Siakam's dominance in the paint. His post game is really underrated. *chef's kiss*

jacq loves pascal @kylerussforever
life is beautiful when you get to witness 2 consecutive pascal siakam masterclasses in the playoffs

Kevin Bowen @KBowen1070
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pacers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pacers</a> thoughts: -Series on. Have responded well all year, yet another display of that. -Siakam just incredible. Absurd. -Pacers got it at their pace. And counter punched every time. -Glass half full: Hali will snap out of it? Glass half empty: Giannis is nearing a return?

Ball Don't Stop @balldontstop
Siakam's bag may not be the flashiest or prettiest but he gets unorthodox buckets and always performs in the playoffs. Raptors fans saw his evolution first hand. Its one of the craziest transformations ever.

Siakam has been cooking in the playoffs thus far. He went off for 36 points and 13 rebounds in Game 1, picking up the slack for another tough Haliburton offensive night (nine points, eight assists).

If Haliburton finds his scoring mojo again, the Pacers can start dreaming of an upset in this series, though the elephant in the room is the health of Giannis. If, or when, he returns to Milwaukee's roster, this becomes a different series.

Few rivalries have been better this season than Bucks vs. Pacers. Indiana is now 5-1 in the matchup, highlighted by the In-Season Tournament semifinal showdown and the "stealing the game ball" controversy in a later matchup.

Thus far, the first two games of the playoff clash haven't disappointed. It has largely been the Siakam vs. Lillard Show, and the former drew even on Tuesday.

IND vs NYK

May 24 12:00 am

Moneyline

62% bets for IND38% bets for NYK

IND+190 NYK-230

Spread

63% bets for IND37% bets for NYK

IND+5.5 NYK-5.5

Total Points

92% bets for Over8% bets for Under

Over227.5 Under227.5

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