Having already overwhelmed the Boston Celtics’ front line with one patented, mirror-image fallaway jumper after another, Pascal Siakam certainly wasn’t one to waste time when the chance to sprinkle some variety into his Eastern Conference Finals highlight reel came about. Accepting the offer to provide his Indiana Pacers with the first half’s last laugh, the two-time All-Star showcases his veteran savvy, analyzing his options with under 10 seconds to go. Keenly aware of Jaylen Brown’s hesitation to commit a potentially-costly third foul, Siakam leverages the opportunity, powering down the left lane untouched before gathering into an emphatic, two-handed flush. The jam curtained a sequence in which Siakam scored the Pacers’ final 10 points of the half. Indiana would ultimately fall in Game Two on May 23, 2024, but not before the former NBA champion matched the moment appropriately, tallying 28 points — on a blistering 13-of-17 shooting — paired with five rebounds, two assists, and two triples in just 31 minutes. A tireless bucket-getter from all areas, Siakam became NBA history’s first player to produce 50+ points without needing a single free throw attempt in a Conference Finals’ first two games. · May 24, 2024