The Indiana Pacers suffered a 111-94 loss to the New York Knicks in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden. With their series lead trimmed to 3-2, the pressure now shifts back to Indianapolis for a crucial Game 6. But even more than the scoreline, what happened after the final buzzer had fans and media buzzing.
During the postgame press conference, Pascal Siakam, the Pacers’ 2019 NBA champion forward, found himself at the center of a tense exchange with a local journalist. The conversation, sharply worded and caught on camera, quickly gained traction online, drawing attention not just for what was said, but who said it.
Pascal Siakam’s frustration spills over after questions about effort
After a sluggish showing from the Pacers, Siakam addressed the media candidly. “They played harder than us,” he admitted. “Loose balls, rebounds, we’ve got to be able to win that battle.”
That’s when Indianapolis Star columnist Gregg Doyel followed with a direct question: “How is it possible to not play hard enough in a playoff game?” The phrasing didn’t sit well with Siakam, who immediately pushed back, saying, “What are you talking about? They played harder than us. We played hard, but they played harder. What’s your point? I don’t get it.”
When Doyel tried to explain himself, Siakam interrupted, asking him, “You good bro? You’re looking for something, I know. But damn, what else do you want me to tell you? What about you tell me? Who is the guy? What’s your name, bro?”
On the court, Siakam was one of the few standouts for Indiana. He led all starters with 15 points and continued to be a consistent voice in the locker room. Bennedict Mathurin added 23 off the bench, and Obi Toppin chipped in with 11, but it wasn’t enough to slow down Jalen Brunson, who exploded for 32 points to keep New York alive in the series.
