To start Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals, Pascal Siakam’s 16-point burst staked the Indiana Pacers (2-0) to a quick 10-point cushion. A 13-0 [New York Knicks](https://www.postingandtoasting.com) (0-2) run led by Jalen Brunson and spark-plug Deuce McBride turned the tide, however, giving New York a 26-24 edge after one and a 52-49 lead at the half. Indiana’s 7-0 jolt out of halftime and a late McConnell-Siakam burst had the teams tied at 81 entering the fourth. The Pacers raced ahead by nine in the final frame before Mikal Bridges, Brunson, and Josh whittled it to a one-point game with 14 seconds left. After that, made free throws and missed shots sealed this one up, 114-109.
On the day when Karl-Anthony Towns was named to the _All-NBA Third Team_, he played 28 minutes and was a team-worst -19. Sure, he finished with 20 points and seven rebounds, but his defense made him unplayable at times in the second half. Conversely, Mitchell Robinson was a +6 in his 29 minutes, with six points, nine boards, and three blocks.
Brunson finished with 36 points and 11 assists on 13-of-27 from the floor. Bridges added 20 points and seven boards in 45 minutes. Anunoby scored 16. Josh Hart added six and six. With the second unit, McBride finished with just five points in 25 minutes.
For Indiana, Siakam logged 39 points, Turner scored 16, and Haliburton had a 14-point, 11-dime double-double. They got 21 points from their bench and played 11 guys. New York’s bench scored 11 and Thibs played seven-and-a-half (Cam Payne recorded nine minutes, no points).
Now the series heads to Indiana for a must-win Game Three on Sunday. Professor Miranda is working on a proper recap. Here’s what I saw.
### **First Half**
Pascal Siakam scored everything for Indiana _en route_ to an 11-6 lead by the 7:30 mark. Sticky defense (two Myles Turner blocks, an Aaron Nesmith steal) hampered the Knicks’ flow as the Hicks’ advantage hit 10 points. Siakam finished the quarter with 16.
Around the five-minute mark, Indiana’s Myles Turner visited the locker room. Coach Rick Carlisle substituted Thomas Bryant, while Mitchell Robinson and Miles McBride entered for New York. Deuce provided a spark, sinking a corner trey and grabbing a defensive rebound for a fast break. He and Jalen Brunson—Mr. _All-NBA Second Team_—spearheaded a rally of 13 unanswered points that knotted the score at 19 with 2:45 left.
Now came the Knicks’ turn to turn for excellent defense, when OG Anunoby picked off a pass by Tamara Janine McConnell and dunked it. Meanwhile, Turner, having evacuated his bowels, rejoined the fray for just 10 seconds, long enough to foul Mikal Bridges and get benched. _Nice work, slim!_ Finishing the quarter strong, New York took a 26-24 advantage into the second period.
Karl-Anthony Towns, scoreless in Q1, seized on a Siakam mismatch for five quick points early in Q2. Soon after, he left tread marks on Obi Toppin with a drive to the lane that resulted in a shooting foul. Then he scarfed up a loose ball for this triple—12 points for KAT in the quarter:
God bless Mitchell Robinson. He was a monster on both ends, with two blocks (see the previous clip) and this rim-rattler:
New York went up by seven in the quarter, but tough play by Indiana narrowed the score to 52-49 by intermission.
The Pacers committed seven turnovers on Wednesday and matched that in tonight’s first half. New York outdid them, though, with eight. The villains edged our heroes in playmaking and transition, racking up more assists (11-7) and a fast-break edge (8-3). They were sharper from deep (39% to 33%), while the Knicks had marginally better overall shooting (48% FG). The home team controlled the glass (20-15, including six O-Boards) and three blocks. Siakam led all scorers with 23 on 9-of-13 shooting; Brunson topped the Knicks with 17 on 6-of-11.
### **Second Half**
Coming out of halftime, Indiana rattled off seven unanswered points early on to reclaim the lead. Jalen Brunson led a comeback, however, and his wizardry set up Mikal Bridges for a go-ahead three at the two-minute mark. McConnell and Siakam responded with six points, and when the buzzer rang to close the frame, the Hoosiers had won it 32-29. We had a tie ballgame, 81-81, heading into the final 12.
With Jalen Brunson on the bench to start the fourth, Indiana took a nine-point lead with nine to go. During that stretch, you’d be hard-pressed to find any defensive effort of merit by the Knickerbockers. Bridges scored just three points in the first half; he dropped 17 in the second. Two straight buckets by Mikal cut the Knicks’ deficit to five with plenty of time remaining. His 18th point cut the score to 97-94 a minute later.
Karl-Anthony watched from the bench, not due to foul trouble but a -23 net rating—the team’s worst. When Myles Turner scored a triple to extend Indiana’s lead with four-and-a-half to go, however, we began to wonder if Towns’ firepower was necessary to rally for a win. Haliburton swished a triple with Brunson defending for a seven-point lead; two Siakam freebies made it nine. Hack-a-Mitch sent Robinson to the line with 3:20 left (he made one). A Siakam breakaway made the hole 10.
Anunoby made two from the line and Brunson scored five straight to make it 110-107 with a minute to go.
After an Indiana timeout, Thibs sent all of his starters out. New York botched one defensive rebound but grabbed another with 30 seconds left. Brunson fired an assist to Hart under the rim—_great!_—but grabbed Nesmith’s jersey on the inbound attempt—not great! Nesmith made both free throws, giving New York possession, down by three with 14.7 left. Captain Clutch bricked a deep triple; Turner grabbed the rebound, was fouled, and made both. The Garden was stunned. The ballgame was sealed.
### **Up Next**
Matthew Miranda, Esq., is preparing your recap. The series heads to Hoosierville for Game Three on Sunday. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.
[Box Score](https://www.nba.com/game/ind-vs-nyk-0042400302/box-score#box-score)