Pascal Siakam had a moment he’d love to take back in the final seconds of the Indiana Pacers’ 120-118 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. With Indiana trailing 119-116 and less than eight seconds remaining, the Pacers needed a three-pointer to force overtime. However, a crucial mental lapse from Siakam sealed their fate in regulation.
The Pacers need 3 points to tie the game in the clutch, but Pascal Siakam goes for the 2 points instead (with a replay).
The Hawks commentary roasts him for that. pic.twitter.com/USPunJ6lCU
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) March 9, 2025
The Pacers inbounded the ball to Andrew Nembhard, who dribbled up to half-court and faced immediate defensive pressure. As he got trapped, he passed the ball to Siakam, who received it just beyond the three-point line. With a clear lane to the basket, Siakam drove inside for a wide-open dunk instead of attempting a game-tying three-pointer.
The Hawks, recognizing the mistake, wisely let him score, allowing the clock to drain down to 1.3 seconds before inbounding the ball and getting fouled with just 0.5 seconds left, leaving no realistic chance for Indiana to recover.
After the game, Siakam took full responsibility for the blunder.
“They were grabbing me and I just went and I didn’t think. It was a stupid play by me. But it happens. We put ourselves in that situation. We gotta get a 3 at that point. And yeah, my bad.”
His honesty about the mistake showed his accountability, but the error was still a costly one. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle was also baffled by the decision but noted that Siakam immediately recognized his mistake after the play. It was an uncharacteristic mental lapse from the three-time All-Star, who is typically one of the smartest and most composed players on the floor.
Before the crucial error, Siakam had played an excellent game, finishing with 23 points, six rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block. The Pacers were +13 in his minutes, highlighting his positive impact. But all of that was overshadowed by the final possession, which left his teammates and fans in shock.
The loss was particularly painful for Indiana, considering they had erased a 20-point deficit earlier in the game. With Bennedict Mathurin leading the way with 30 points, the Pacers had fought their way back despite missing their star guard Tyrese Haliburton, who was out with a hip strain. It seemed like they were on the verge of forcing overtime, but Siakam’s mistake ensured they never got the chance.
On the Hawks’ side, Trae Young was the star of the night, dropping 36 points despite battling a thigh injury in the second half. Caris LeVert provided a huge spark off the bench with 26 points, and Onyeka Okongwu dominated the glass with 16 points and 16 rebounds. The Hawks capitalized on Indiana’s late-game blunder, securing their third win in four games.
Ultimately, Siakam’s mental lapse became the defining moment of the night. Instead of giving the Pacers a shot at overtime, his decision to take the easy dunk ended Indiana’s chances. It was a tough lesson for Siakam and the Pacers, and one they will surely not forget anytime soon.
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