After a crushing 22-point loss in Game 3, the Pacers looked like a team on the brink. But Tyrese Haliburton’s words hinted at a different energy. “Sun came up this morning… Understanding it’s not what I want to see from myself, not what I’m sure anyone wants to see from me. But I’ll take it on the chin and I’ll be better next game.” That mindset wasn’t his alone. The team returned to Game 4 with a clear mission, and they delivered. Indiana crushed Cleveland 129-109, flipping the pressure right back in the Cavaliers’ direction. And it is no ordinary script; it is against the Seed number 1, a script no one would have expected during the regular season.
Statistically, the Pacers played one of their most complete games. Pascal Siakam was on fire, leading with 21 points on 9-of-10 shooting. He drained two quick threes, found teammates like Obi Toppin with slick passes, and dictated the game’s rhythm. Toppin added 20 of his own, exploding off the bench. By halftime, Indiana had a 41-point lead, the largest in franchise playoff history. The Pacers simply overwhelmed Cleveland with pace, intensity, and pinpoint execution.
The basketball world quickly took notice. On the “Run It Back” show, Chandler Parsons didn’t hold back his praise. “The most underrated player of the year might be his teammate Siakam,” he said. Parsons pointed out how Siakam stays humble, flies under the radar, yet gives you 23 to 25 every night. In his words, “He’s just humble, you don’t see him in national ads, he does no commercials, and he just gets 23 to 25 a game, he plays defense, he’s versatile, he has been unbelievable for this team.” He doesn’t seek attention; he just plays elite, winning basketball. And Sunday’s performance only cemented that reputation further.
After the game, Siakam’s comments reflected quiet confidence. “I’ve just got to take whatever is there, be aggressive,” he explained. For him, it wasn’t about flashy numbers. It was about pushing the pace, reading the defense, and attacking when it mattered. His playoff struggles earlier didn’t shake him. Instead, he responded with poise and focus when his team needed him most.
Nov 20, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) dribbles the ball during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
And when asked what fueled this turnaround, Siakam made it simple. It was about accountability. “We have guys that care at the end of the day,” he said. He credited the film session and the locker room’s mindset. No drama, just solutions. “It’s all about correcting it, it’s all about getting better.” That mentality, shared across the roster, has the Pacers sitting one win away from the Eastern Conference Finals. However, while Parsons fell in love with Siakam’s play, there’s another play that garnered just as much attention.
Obi Toppin’s reverse layup reignites memories of Dr. J’s iconic scoop
It was the third quarter, Game 4, and the Pacers were rolling. With 5:35 left on the clock and the score reading 94-60, the Cavaliers had clearly lost control. But for one moment, the scoreboard faded into the background. Obi Toppin sliced through the paint and delivered a reverse layup that felt like it had been borrowed straight from 1980. It was smooth, graceful, and instantly familiar to anyone who knows their NBA history.
What made it even more surreal was the timing. The NBA History account reminded everyone that 45 years ago, on the exact same date, Julius Erving pulled off what’s now known as “The Scoop.” In the 1980 Finals, Dr. J went baseline, wrapped under the rim, and finished with a one-handed reverse that stunned defenders and became a legend. Toppin’s version didn’t have Kareem lurking in the paint, but it carried the same spirit of flight and flair.
What made Erving’s move so iconic wasn’t just the finish; it was the defiance of physics. It was as if he created his own path mid-air. Toppin’s layup had that same unexpected brilliance. He floated past defenders, ducked under the glass, and spun it in like he’d been practicing it since childhood. That’s the kind of play that doesn’t just score points; it stirs emotion and brings the crowd to its feet.
And it wasn’t lost on fans or commentators. Some called it homage, others called it fate. But either way, it felt like basketball poetry. On a night when the Pacers roared back into the series, Toppin gave them more than just points, he gave them a moment that tied the past to the present and made history feel alive again.
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