Pascal Siakam’s preseason has not exactly been smooth sailing, but Tuesday night offers him a stage that should fit his game: another crack at the Oklahoma City Thunder.
There is no hard evidence in the source to prove Siakam particularly circles this matchup, and he has not said as much. Still, the idea hangs in the air because of who Siakam is and how he has handled past slights.
He has been described as someone who keeps grudges more against organizations than individuals, and the source points to his response after the Toronto Raptors fired the GM he had come to love as a father in Masai Ujiri, who currently runs the Dallas Mavericks. Siakam quickly asked out.
That backdrop makes this meeting feel bigger than a preseason game, especially after the 2024-25 NBA Finals. The Thunder denied Siakam and the Indiana Pacers a title and, by extension, a chance for Siakam to become a two-time champion. The source also notes that outcome likely would have set him up for an extension this offseason.
Now the Pacers get the Thunder again, and the question is how much Siakam can do against the team that blocked that championship path. The regular-season version of this matchup would normally mean Siakam spending much of the night around Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. But it is still unclear how much Oklahoma City will lean on its starters in what amounts to an exhibition.
So far, the Thunder’s preseason standouts have been two rookies who have been dominant inside and out. If the pattern holds, Aday Mara figures to be handled by Ivica Zubac, which could leave Siakam with more room to attack downhill rather than wrestling through the most physical interior battles.
That is where this game could get messy for Oklahoma City. Both teams like to push the pace and live with the ball in dangerous spaces, which opens the door for easy baskets and transition chances. That style fits Siakam well, and it would not be surprising if he racks up numbers before getting pulled in the second half.
Indiana is using these preseason games to build toward its opener against the New Orleans Pelicans with a group that looks in rhythm and ready to move. The Pacers have already faced the Minnesota Timberwolves and Atlanta Hawks, two teams expected to be in the playoff mix in their conferences.
This one is a step up even from that. It reaches into contender territory, and Siakam will need to bring his best, even if the end result is mostly about bragging rights.
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Indianas side of the ledger has been reshaped by moves like the one that brought Ivica Zubac to the Pacers, part of a broader push to accelerate the contention window. Oklahoma City, meanwhile, has stayed committed to its long-term blueprint, trusting internal growth and another wave of youth to keep the machine moving. A preseason meeting will not settle anything, but it should offer a sharp reminder of how little margin there is now between chasing a title and trying to catch the team that has already figured out the formula. [Read more 🡒]