Pascal Siakam

Trailing 1-0 in their first-round series, and in dire need of a response against the Milwaukee Bucks’ experienced, seasoned veterans, the youthful Indiana Pacers turned to a player affectionately known for bringing a season and spice of his own. Opportunistic in his chance at keeping the Bucks at arm’s length with the fourth quarter winding down, Pascal Siakam toggles into takeover mode, stationing his post-up along a familiar spot on the left block before elevating into a smooth, crowd-quieting and-one jumper to extend a double-digit advantage. Matching the poise of a former NBA champion with the ambition of a player seeking even more, Siakam became just NBA history’s second player since 1967 to open a postseason with back-to-back 35-point, 10-rebound outings. The two-time All-Star also helped Indiana return to its historic, high-scoring ways during the Game Two win on April 23, 2024. Punishing the Bucks’ defense from the court’s entirety, “Spicy P” channeled a postseason career-high 37 points, accompanied by 11 rebounds, six assists, and three 3-pointers.