Siakam’s Floater Caps Pacers’ Third Straight Win as Indiana Rediscovers Its Edge

The Indiana Pacers are starting to look like a team finding its footing again. Monday night’s 98–96 win over the Boston Celtics, who were without Jaylen Brown, marked Indiana’s third consecutive victory and offered the clearest evidence yet that momentum is building.

The deciding moment came in the closing seconds, when Pascal Siakam spun away from Derrick White and lofted a high-arcing floater over Neemias Queta to steal the game. It was a poised finish in traffic, the kind of shot reserved for players comfortable carrying a team in tight moments.

Siakam has been that figure all season, the steady hand guiding a roster that has fluctuated through injuries and inconsistency. Yet the Pacers’ recent success has not rested on one star alone. Around him, role players have begun to play with renewed freedom.

That collective lift has changed the team’s energy. The Pacers are not simply surviving games—they are dictating stretches of them, a subtle but meaningful evolution after a bumpy opening to the campaign.

1. A Closing Act With Authority

Siakam’s game-winner was not the product of a drawn-up play so much as a display of instinct. Off the dribble, he turned the corner, absorbed pressure, and released a soft floater that never seemed to touch the rim. It was a snapshot of why Indiana invested in him. The Pacers have lacked a consistent late-game option in recent years, and Siakam’s ability to create offense when defensive schemes tighten has transformed their closing profile. Against Boston, every possession felt magnified. The Celtics, even without Brown, defended with urgency, forcing Indiana to earn each look. Siakam’s patience under those conditions illustrated his value beyond the box score. For a team searching for an identity, that reliability at the finish line is invaluable. It allows Indiana to play with composure rather than desperation when games tilt toward the final minute.

2. A Dunk That Summed It Up

While Siakam’s floater will live in the highlights, Jay Huff’s second-quarter drive embodied the Pacers’ returning swagger. With two defenders closing out on his three-point attempt, the center unexpectedly put the ball on the floor, attacked the lane, and finished with his trademark reverse dunk. It was not just a flashy play—it was a statement. Huff has carved out a reputation for his creative finishing, but that sequence underscored his confidence in expanding his role, even in traffic. By the end of the night, Huff had compiled 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting, adding two steals and a block to a stat line that reflected both efficiency and energy. For a roster battling depth issues, those contributions were as critical as Siakam’s final shot. Indiana’s bench and fringe rotation players have often struggled to provide consistency. Huff’s emergence as a reliable contributor has changed that narrative, injecting athleticism and edge into a frontcourt that badly needed it.

3. More Than a Stopgap

Huff is not viewed as the Pacers’ long-term solution at center, but his presence has proven more than temporary. Acquired at minimal cost from Memphis in the offseason, he has exceeded expectations, particularly on the defensive end. He currently leads the league in blocks, a testament to his timing and instincts around the rim. Add in his ability to stretch the floor with three-point range, and the Pacers suddenly have a versatile piece that fits the modern NBA mold. Indiana’s challenge now is ensuring that this value is not fleeting. Players with Huff’s blend of shot-blocking and perimeter touch are scarce, and the Pacers would be wise to secure him as a rotational fixture. As the franchise looks toward returning to true contention next season, a dependable backup center may not grab headlines, but it can stabilize entire lineups. In Huff, Indiana may have found exactly that.