Paskal Siakam Silences the Doubters, Drags Indiana Pacers To First Road Win
Let’s be honest, if you’ve watched the Indiana Pacers this season, you’ve probably reached for the remote, your phone, or maybe even a stiff drink. It’s been a rough watch. The team has been a mess, a chaotic whirlwind of injuries and underperformance that has them scraping the bottom of the Eastern Conference barrel. And their road record? A goose egg so big you could see it from space. Winless. Until Friday night in the “Windy City.”
But through all the muck and the mire, one man has been playing like his hair is on fire: Pascal Siakam.
Siakam Has Been Doing His Job
You can’t blame this season’s dumpster fire on him. The two-time All-Star has been carrying this team like a sherpa hauling gear up Mount Everest. He’s putting up career-high scoring numbers (24.5 PPG). He lost his pick-and-roll partner-in-crime, Tyrese Haliburton, for the season. It is like asking a rock star to go on tour after his lead guitarist quits. It’s just not the same.
Friday night against the Chicago Bulls, though, was a masterpiece of “get on my back, fellas.” Siakam dropped a season-high 36 points, snatched 10 rebounds, and even notched 2 steals for good measure. He got just enough help from his trusty sidekick, Bennedict Mathurin, who poured in 28 points of his own, to finally get that road monkey off their backs.
Spicy P Heats Up When It Matters
The funny thing is, Siakam was a ghost in the first quarter, completely scoreless. You could hear the crickets. But then, something clicked. Whatever it was, he came alive, finishing the game with five three-pointers that felt like daggers to the heart of every Bulls fan in the United Center. Mathurin wasn’t shy either, draining six threes himself. It was a proper shootout.
The Bulls? They’re in a full-blown meltdown. After a hot start to the season, they’ve been imploding like a supernova, and this was their sixth straight loss. The Pacers, despite their miserable record, looked like the more composed, unified team, especially when it counted in the fourth quarter. And Siakam was the engine, the conductor, and the lead singer of that runaway train.
“We haven’t been successful on the road,” Siakam said after the game. “Coach (Rick Carlisle) has been on us about it. We just have to decide we hate losing.”
You could feel the raw frustration and relief in his voice. This wasn’t just another win; it was a statement made by the Pacers. It was a collective exhale for a Pacers team that has been holding its breath for weeks. “We were able to weather the storm,” he continued. “We need wins, we need wins. We got to get everything we can.”
More Than Just a Stat Line
This performance was historic. Siakam became the first player in Pacers franchise history to notch 36 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals, and 5 three-pointers in a single game. That’s not just good; that’s legendary stuff. While the team’s poor record will likely keep him out of the All-Star conversation, his effort this season has been nothing short of heroic.
Let’s not forget the supporting cast. Jay Huff, settling into his role at center, was a defensive menace with five blocks. He was swatting shots like they were annoying flies at a barbecue.
This win marks the Pacers’ best stretch of the season, winning three of their last five. It might not be a dynasty in the making, but it’s a pulse. It’s a sign of life. For a team that has been battered and bruised, it’s a glimmer of hope. And it’s all thanks to the relentless heart of Siakam, who simply refused to let his Pacers lose again.
