“Whatever was out there, I just took it. What makes us special is that we have different weapons and no one is caught up in who gets the credit. We just play how the game presents itself,” said Pascal Siakam, when describing what gives the Pacers an edge over the Knicks in the ongoing playoffs. What was touted as a revenge series for Jalen Brunson and co, after last year’s playoffs, soon turned into déjà vu, as the Pacers won the first 2 games of the Conference Finals by very close margins.

Given the momentum the team has gained, the last thing Indiana fans would want is for it to be broken. Therefore, Pascal Siakam and co will have to continue delivering their A-Game. While we don’t know whether the Cameroonian will give his best, we know that he will at least be there to attempt it.

According to the Indiana Pacers Injury Report, as highlighted by ESPN, Pascal Siakam’s name is not listed. This means that the player will be available to take on Jalen Brunson and Co. in the coming hours. It also means that the player’s issues with his elbow have not returned amid his post-season run.

In the previous months, Pascal Siakam reportedly suffered from right olecranon bursitis. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it is the painful swelling around the elbow joint. It occurs when there is reportedly inflammation in the olecranon bursa, aka the fluid-filled sac that surrounds and protects the elbow.

The seriousness of the ailment was felt when the player was declared ‘Questionable’ for a game back in March. To his credit, Siakam still played. Unfortunately, the ailment worsened by April. This led to Siakam being declared ‘OUT’ of one matchup each against the Denver Nuggets, the Orlando Magic, and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The last game Pascal Siakam missed due to his elbow was back on April 13th. Since then, the elbow hasn’t bothered him and, judging from the recent report, it won’t bother him in the upcoming game either.

The cherry on top of this sundae is that, except for one, no other Indiana Pacers player is on the report. Isaiah Jackson, who has been with the team since he was drafted back in 2021, hasn’t played a game since November. He continues to recover from a torn Achilles. Jackson continues to remain ‘OUT’ from what was supposed to be the 2nd playoff series of his NBA career, and part of the first Pacers squad that can probably reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000. Meanwhile, the New York Knicks have no players listed on their report.

What will the starting lineup and depth chart for the Pacers-Knicks game look like?

Having Pascal Siakam for Game 3 is essential for the Pacers to continue maintaining their close momentum. After all, the player has averaged 21.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in his last 10 matchups against the New York Knicks. The 2 matchups in the ongoing playoffs saw him score 17 and 39 points, respectively. The 39 points came via 15-23 (65.2%) field goals, 3-5 (60.0%) 3-pointers, and 6-8 (75.0%) free throws. As a starter, the offensive pressure will be falling on his shoulders, along with that of Tyrese Haliburton, Myles Turner, etc. Since Isaiah Jackson hasn’t played a game since November, his absence will not affect the Pacers much.

The starting lineup for the Indiana Pacers is expected to look like this:

Former Boston Celtics champion Kendrick Perkins recently said that “Tom Thibodeau … is coaching his a– off right now. That’s how they’re winning. The coaching and the trust. When Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns go to the bench, I see the pace pick up.” While the Indiana Pacers are challenging enough, the Knicks’ rotation is also not one to be trifled with. Having already lost 2 games, they would be in revenge mode right now.

In light of this update, the starting lineup for the New York Knicks for Game 1 is expected to look like this:

The Indiana Pacers or the New York Knicks? Who will you be rooting for? Let us know in the comments section down below.