Siakam’s Buzzer-Beater Gives Pacers Much-Needed Lift After Weeks of Frustration

In a season marked by injuries, growing pressure, and narrow defeats, the Indiana Pacers desperately needed a stabilizing performance. On Saturday night, they received it from their All-Star forward. Pascal Siakam broke through the team’s recent struggles with a dramatic game-winner, providing both relief and momentum for a franchise still searching for footing.

His fading jumper with 0.1 seconds left secured a 103–101 victory over the Chicago Bulls, snapping a string of frustrating finishes. The moment carried personal weight as well. Just three days earlier, Siakam had watched Brandon Ingram hit a buzzer-beater over him—a play that replayed in his mind repeatedly and cost him sleep.

This time, the script flipped. As Siakam elevated for the final shot, the memories of that loss resurfaced, but so did the determination not to let another game slip away. When the ball settled through the net, Siakam felt more relief than triumph, a release of pressure built over weeks of tough breaks.

His teammates wasted no time celebrating. Andrew Nembhard greeted Siakam with a handshake before the entire Pacers bench swarmed them, piling on in a rare moment of joy for a group that has endured a taxing start to the season. Even as the adrenaline faded, the importance of the shot lingered—for Siakam, and for Indiana.

1. A Shot Rooted in Redemption

Siakam acknowledged that Ingram’s shot earlier in the week stayed with him longer than most losses do. He spent nights replaying how he might have contested it differently, describing the experience as one that “stuck” with him. That lingering disappointment shaped his mindset as he rose for the game-winner against Chicago. This time, Siakam focused on creating separation, using a quick fake and a controlled fadeaway to avoid a repeat outcome. The ball dropped through cleanly, prompting immediate exhilaration from his teammates and a visible sense of catharsis from the Pacers star. The pileup that followed became one of the Pacers’ lightest moments of the season. Nembhard leaped onto Siakam, and someone in the crowd of celebrating teammates even managed to yank away Siakam’s headband. Siakam later joked that he would sort out the culprit on the film review. For a team that has been battling adversity from the start of the campaign, the final sequence restored confidence and helped wipe away the lingering sting of recent heartbreaks.

2. Indiana’s Heavy Dependence on Siakam

With Tyrese Haliburton still recovering from the Achilles tear he suffered during last season’s Finals run, Indiana has leaned heavily on Siakam to carry the offense. He leads the franchise in both scoring and rebounding and has felt the pressure of trying to lift a team that opened the year 4–16. Head coach Rick Carlisle said the final possession was called for Siakam without hesitation, noting that players with max contracts are expected to deliver in those critical moments. The coaching staff, the roster, and the season’s circumstances have collectively placed significant responsibility on his shoulders. Despite facing double-teams and increased defensive attention, Siakam has tried to provide the steadying force Indiana lacks without Haliburton. His leadership has extended beyond scoring, with an emphasis on keeping teammates engaged through the rough patches. Saturday’s winner marked the first time in weeks where Siakam’s efforts resulted in a tangible, uplifting breakthrough—one that matched the load he has been carrying for Indiana.

3. A Late Surge Rescues the Pacers

The Bulls appeared in control late in the fourth quarter, holding a seven-point lead as the Pacers struggled to generate rhythm. Indiana’s defense, though, responded with one of its strongest stretches of the season, limiting Chicago to just four points over the final four minutes. Siakam sparked the turnaround, scoring critical baskets and helping stabilize the team’s half-court execution. His last shot, created with a deliberate fake and a clean release over two defenders, punctuated a closing stretch that showcased both poise and determination. Carlisle described the game-winner as “well deserved,” reflecting both the effort Siakam has invested and the challenges the Pacers have endured to begin the season. For Indiana, the moment felt overdue—another reminder that the roster still possesses talent capable of shifting momentum. For Siakam, it was more than a win. It was a reclamation of confidence and a statement that the Pacers, despite their record, remain capable of grinding through adversity.