Pacers’ Pascal Siakam has awkward exchange with columnist previously suspended over Caitlin Clark interaction

The New York Knicks beat the Indiana Pacers 111-94, and are now down 3-2 in the Eastern Conference Finals. Nick Wright, Chris Broussard, and Kevin Wildes ask if the Knicks can still win this series.

Indianapolis Star columnist Gregg Doyel has made headlines again this week for another awkward interaction with a basketball player, this time after the Indiana Pacers suffered a crucial loss to the New York Knicks in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals. 

The Pacers missed a chance to secure their spot in the NBA Finals after the Knicks staved off elimination with an 111-94 victory at home on Thursday night. Speaking to reporters after the loss, Pacers forward Pascal Siakam gave credit to the Knicks for outplaying Indiana. 

New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) controls the ball against Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) in the fourth quarter during game five of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 29, 2025.  (Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)

"They played better than us, and I just think we've been an amazing team all year at bouncing back," he said. "Our strength has been being together, fighting hard together, staying together no matter what. Nobody had us being here — right now we're up 3-2 in the conference finals." 

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But Siakam was pressed by Indianapolis Star columnist Gregg Doyel over how it was "possible" that the Knicks outplayed the Pacers, leading to an awkward exchange between the two. 

"What are you talking about? They played harder than us," Siakam said. "We played hard but they played harder. What’s your point, I don’t get it." 

Doyel continued to press Siakam, but the NBA star interrupted, "that