Pascal Siakam doesn't hold back, buries Pacers reporter after loss

Pascal Siakam wasn’t in the mood for games. After the Indiana Pacers got run off the floor by the New York Knicks in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Siakam kept it real. He said New York just played harder.

It was a tough admission, but an honest one, after a flat performance from Indiana with the franchise's first NBA Finals trip in 25 years on the line. In reality, that probably should've been the end of it.

But controversial Indy Star reporter Gregg Doyel kept pushing, trying to make something more out of Siakam’s comment. Siakam didn’t bite. Instead, he fired back, clearly annoyed by the interaction.

"It's okay. We played hard, they played harder. What's your point, I don't get it? You good bro? You're looking for something I know, but damn."

- Pascal Siakam

It was tense, but it also felt justified. For some Pacers fans, it may have been a little refreshing to see a player push back on a reporter who’s previously made headlines for all the wrong reasons.

The Pacers will continue to lean on Pascal Siakam's veteran leadership

Siakam didn’t make excuses after Game 5. He could’ve blamed the refs, the energy at MSG, or just had a quiet press conference and moved on. Instead, he said what most fans were already thinking: the Knicks wanted it more. It wasn’t what Pacers fans wanted to hear, but it was the truth.

That kind of honesty isn’t something you always get from star players, especially in the playoffs. Siakam didn’t throw anyone under the bus. That’s what leaders do. He took responsibility and called it like he saw it, even if it meant admitting the Pacers got outplayed.

It was a difficult night for the entire Pacers team. Siakam led all Indiana starters with 15 points, six rebounds, and five assists, but it wasn't enough to overcome a rough night from Tyrese Haliburton, who failed to follow up on his brilliant Game 4 performance.

Now the Pacers head back home for Game 6 with another chance to close out the series. There’s still a lot on the line. But in that press conference, Siakam showed why Indiana brought him here a little over a year ago.

Siakam is the steadying veteran presence — a voice of reason in trying times. And if the Pacers are going to avoid a historic collapse and close out this series, they'll need him and the other team leaders to step up and do their parts.

Siakam set the tone with his words and his presence. Now, with Game 6 back in Indy, the Pacers have a chance to respond the right way and win this series on their terms.