Pacers Lean on Pascal Siakam as Injuries Force a Reset in Indiana
With Tyrese Haliburton sidelined, the Indiana Pacers have turned to Pascal Siakam to carry the load-and he’s responding with the kind of leadership and production this team desperately needs. Back-to-back 24-point performances over the weekend helped Indiana notch wins over Washington and Chicago, doubling their win total in the process.
It’s been a grind. After last season’s Finals run, the Pacers stumbled out of the gate with a brutal 2-16 start.
But Siakam isn’t shying away from the challenge. In fact, he’s embracing it.
“You can’t take it for granted,” Siakam told reporters. “Every single possession we win… every single run we have… every single win, we gotta take it and enjoy it.
We’re tired of losing. We can’t keep losing.
That has to be our mindset.”
That mindset is showing up in his play. Siakam isn’t just putting up numbers-he’s setting the tone. Whether it’s pushing the pace, initiating the offense, or locking in defensively, he’s become the engine of a team that’s trying to rediscover its identity on the fly.
The Pacers are still in a deep hole, but with Siakam stepping into a leadership role and setting the standard, Indiana is starting to look like a team that’s ready to fight its way back.
Cavs Limp into Indiana Missing Key Contributors
The Cleveland Cavaliers head into tonight’s matchup with the Pacers severely undermanned. Darius Garland (toe management) and Lonzo Ball (illness) were late additions to an already crowded injury list that includes Larry Nance Jr., Max Strus, Jarrett Allen, and Sam Merrill.
That’s a significant chunk of the rotation unavailable-and it’s going to test Cleveland’s depth in a big way. The Cavs have shown resilience this season, but with so many key pieces out, they’ll need strong performances from their bench and role players just to stay competitive.
It’s a tough break for a team that’s been trying to build momentum. And against a Pacers squad finally showing signs of life, the timing couldn’t be worse.