The Indiana Pacers are up 2-1 in their Eastern Conference Finals matchup against the New York Knicks. With a trip to the NBA Finals on the line, Indiana will aim to take a commanding 3-1 series lead on Tuesday night.
Neither team has made an NBA Finals appearance in over two decades, which makes this series a bit more intriguing. As they each look to end their drought, they will continue to rely on their top players heavily. This includes Pascal Siakam for the Pacers, who continues to shine in his first full year with the team.
Ahead of Tuesday's pivotal Game 4, a Knicks star sent a clear message regarding Siakam.
Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43)
Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43)
© Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Though he is now playing a crucial role with the Pacers, Siakam spent the first eight years of his NBA career with the Toronto Raptors.
In Toronto, the Cameroon native was a two-time All-Star, a two-time All-NBA selection, and the 2018-19 Most Improved Player recipient. Above all else, however, he helped lead the Raptors to their first NBA title in 2019. Another key player from that championship team is current Knicks forward OG Anunoby.
Once teammates on a championship-winning team, Siakam and Anunoby are now going head-to-head in the conference finals. Despite currently being opponents, Anunoby sent a clear message about his former teammate, saying they are still "great friends" (h/t SNY on YouTube).
“Pascal is one of my great friends in the league," Anunoby said. We were very close as teammates. He’s a great player and a great person.”
Though they remain close, they will each aim to take the other out to return to the NBA Finals, where neither player has been since winning it all with the Raptors in 2019.