NEW YORK — Pascal Siakam scored a playoff career-high 39 points, and the Pacers beat the Knicks, 114-109, on Friday night for a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.

With the Knicks gripping for life down the stretch, the former Raptor went to work again. As he does so often after a Haliburton rebound, Siakam sprinted the floor to get by Knicks forward Mikal Bridges. The star received the pass from Haliburton and converted on a fastbreak layup, which was his 39th point, a playoff career-high.

Pascal Siakam scored 39 points to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 114-109 road win over the New York Knicks in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Friday evening.

The New York Knicks are set to host the Indiana Pacers for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday. The Knicks will play in their first conference final in 25 years, and the whole city is excited, including All-Star center Karl-Anthony Towns.

Thinking he had won Wednesday’s game, Tyrese Haliburton unleashed the “choke” taunt made famous by Reggie Miller some 31 years ago.