Honestly, looking at the Indiana Pacers' record right now is a bit like watching a car crash in slow motion. They’re sitting near the bottom of the East, and with Tyrese Haliburton out for the season with that devastating Achilles injury, the vibes in Indianapolis should be at an all-time low. But then you watch Pascal Siakam last 10 games, and you realize why the building hasn't completely cleared out yet.
It’s been a weird, lonely stretch for "Spicy P." He’s basically been asked to be the entire offense, the primary rebounder, and a secondary playmaker while defenses throw every double-team in the playbook at him.
The numbers are pretty wild when you actually sit down and look at them. Over his most recent ten-game stretch, Siakam is averaging roughly 23.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and nearly 4 assists per night. That’s not just "good for a bad team" production; those are All-NBA level numbers being produced in a vacuum of spacing. Without Myles Turner (who's now in Milwaukee) and Haliburton, the floor has shrunk to the size of a postage stamp.
Breaking Down the Box Scores
If you want to understand the current state of Pascal Siakam last 10 games, you have to look at the January 16th win against the Pelicans. He dropped 27 points on 11-of-22 shooting. He looked like the only guy on the floor who knew where the rim was for large stretches.
But it hasn't all been sunshine. Just two days earlier against his former team, the Toronto Raptors, he put up 26 and 10, but the Pacers still lost by double digits. That’s been the story of his life lately. He’s essentially a one-man wrecking crew on a ship that’s taking on water.
Here is how the scoring has fluctuated during this recent 10-game window:
- High Water Mark: 30 points and 14 rebounds against Charlotte on January 8th. He was unstoppable in the paint that night, looking like the 2019 championship version of himself.
- The Efficiency Outlier: Against Boston on January 12th, he went 10-of-15 from the field. To put up 21 points on 15 shots against a defense as disciplined as the Celtics' is borderline heroic when you don't have a superstar point guard to set you up.
- The Duds: Even Pascal has human moments. He struggled mightily against Miami on January 10th, finishing with only 11 points on 4-of-15 shooting. The Heat's zone defense is specifically designed to frustrate players like him who thrive on rhythm and mid-range touches.
The Burden of Being "The Guy"
The nuance most people miss when talking about Siakam is the usage rate. His usage is the highest it’s ever been. In Toronto, he had Kyle Lowry or Fred VanVleet to organize the chaos. In Indiana last year, he had Haliburton. Now? It’s Andrew Nembhard and Bennedict Mathurin (when healthy) trying to fill the void.
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Nembhard has actually stepped up, averaging about 15.9 points in this same span, but he’s not a floor general who bends the defense. That means every bucket Siakam gets is "earned." There are no easy transition layups gifted to him by a cross-court Haliburton laser. He’s posting up, he’s hitting contested 10-footers, and he’s fighting through contact at the rim.
It’s exhausting just to watch.
Why the Pacers Are 4-6 in Pascal Siakam Last 10 Games
You’d think with a guy playing this well, the record would be better. But the Pacers’ defense is currently a sieve. While Siakam is out there giving you 24 and 8, the team is giving up an average of 115.7 points per game over the last ten.
They can’t stop anyone.
The rebounding has also been a massive issue. Since Myles Turner left, the Pacers have been outrebounded in almost every single matchup. Siakam is leading the team in boards most nights, which is a problem because he should be leaking out in transition, not battling 7-footers for offensive glass.
The Mid-Range Mastery
One thing that has actually improved in Pascal Siakam last 10 games is his efficiency from the mid-range. He's shooting over 52% from the field for the season, which is kind of incredible given the lack of spacing.
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He’s developed this little turnaround jumper that’s basically unblockable. If he gets to his spot on the left block, it’s a wrap.
What the Critics Get Wrong
There’s a narrative that Siakam can’t be the "Number 1" on a championship team. That might be true if you’re talking about winning 65 games and a ring. But in the context of the 2025-26 Pacers, he’s doing exactly what he’s paid to do. He is the stabilizing force.
He hasn't complained. He signed that massive $189 million extension, and he's playing every minute like it's a playoff game even though the team is staring at a lottery pick. That kind of veteran leadership is rare. Honestly, it’s what keeps guys like Jarace Walker and Johnny Furphy from picking up bad habits.
Looking Ahead: The Pistons and Beyond
The next big test is a matchup against the Detroit Pistons. On paper, it looks like a "tank-off," but Detroit has actually been surprisingly decent lately (29-10). They have Cade Cunningham playing at an All-Star level.
For the Pacers to have a chance, they need "Spicy P" to be better than Cade. They need him to not just score 25, but to create 10-15 points for others.
If you’re a fantasy owner or just a die-hard Pacers fan, here are the trends to watch over the next few weeks:
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- Free Throw Rate: Siakam's free throw attempts have dipped slightly. He needs to get to the line more to slow down the game and give the Pacers' defense time to set up.
- Three-Point Volume: He’s been hovering around 38% from deep this season, a career high. If he continues to hit two or three triples a game, it forces defenders to close out, opening up his driving lanes.
- The Defensive Load: Keep an eye on his blocks and steals. As he tires out from the offensive load, his defensive intensity sometimes lags.
How to Value Siakam Right Now
If you're betting or playing daily fantasy, Siakam is a "high floor, medium ceiling" guy. You know he’s going to get you 20+. He’s too skilled and the Pacers are too thin for him not to. However, his "ceiling" is capped because he’s often doubled as soon as he touches the ball in the fourth quarter.
The real value lies in his rebounding. With the Pacers' frontcourt injuries, Siakam is essentially playing the small-ball five in certain lineups. That means double-doubles are much more likely than they were three months ago.
Practical Next Steps for Pacers Fans
If you're following the team through this rough patch, don't just look at the wins and losses. Watch the development of the Siakam-Nembhard pick-and-roll. It's the only thing working right now. Also, keep an eye on the injury report for Bennedict Mathurin; when he returns, it will take significant defensive pressure off Siakam, which should actually see Pascal's efficiency rise even further.
For those interested in the draft lottery, the Pacers are currently in a prime position for a top-5 pick. If they can pair a high-end rookie wing with a healthy Haliburton and this version of Siakam next year, the "lost season" of 2026 will look like a necessary evil.