Pascal Siakam Explains How Ivica Zubac Changes Pacers’ Style

Ivica Zubac pulled down 8 defensive rebounds in the first half Friday night against the Milwaukee Bucks. Pascal Siakam scored 24 points in the same half, and neither returned after halftime of the Indiana Pacers' 128-127 overtime loss in the preseason finale at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Siakam shot 8-of-10 overall and 5-of-7 from beyond the arc in 20:54. Zubac finished with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Indiana was plus-23 with Siakam on the floor and plus-13 with Zubac.

Siakam said Zubac is a great passer in the two-man game and that he is still learning how to cut off him.

"I think we got to continue to run," Siakam said. "I just feel like we are [a] running team, and I feel like we are fast, but we can always get faster. And obviously, having someone like Zu that can secure the rebounds, I think, should give us an opportunity to run even more."

"And I think, obviously, for people, they look at it the other way," Siakam continued. "Is Zubac going to run? But he's adapting to our pace, and he makes quick decisions. He's a great screener, and I think more importantly, he can get that rebound. And once he gets that, we can get going on offense. So I'm looking forward to seeing how we do it in the regular season."

Through four quarters, Indiana had 18 fast-break points to Milwaukee's 16. The Bucks also scored 54 points in the paint to the Pacers' 44 in that span, and 23 of their points came on second chances.

Zubac came to Indiana from the LA Clippers in a Feb. 5 trade and was ranked the 65th-best player in the NBA heading into this season.

He was a second-team All-Defensive pick in 2024-25.

Myles Turner, who spent 10 seasons in Indiana, left for Milwaukee in free agency in 2025. He started against the Pacers on Friday and finished with 13 rebounds.

Siakam has been with the Pacers since a Jan. 17, 2024, trade with the Toronto Raptors. He is a three-time All-Star, a 2019 NBA champion with Toronto, and the MVP of the 2025 Eastern Conference finals.

Bleacher Report ranked him the 27th-best player in the league this month.

Obi Toppin came off the bench Friday and went 4-of-7 from 3-point range through regulation, scoring 12 points with 7 rebounds.

With Toppin and Zubac out there, Siakam can play the 3 or the 4.

"I think it's good," Siakam explained. "Obviously, I feel like I can play three, four. I'm pretty versatile in that way. I'll be having someone that was also fast. A big lineup is always good."

"So I think it's going to be obviously situational, but I enjoy it," Siakam added. "I enjoy all those jumbo lineups and having things that I'm not really seeing all the time. I love that because it creates a different look that teams don't really expect. So I'm good with that."

Tyrese Haliburton described those groups as long and switchable on defense, with Kelly Oubre Jr. or Andrew Nembhard next to him in the backcourt.

Siakam's 24 points Friday came after 2 in the first quarter, both at the free throw line. Siakam said Pacers assistant coach Lloyd Pierce, who ran the bench with Rick Carlisle away, called a play for him.

Indiana went 1-3 in the preseason, beating the Minnesota Timberwolves and losing to the Atlanta Hawks, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Milwaukee. The last two losses came in overtime.

Aaron Nesmith missed Friday's game with a hamstring injury. T.J. McConnell and Jarace Walker were also inactive.

Indiana's opener is Wednesday, Oct. 21, against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center, with tip-off at 8 p.m. ET.

Siakam and the Pacers play the Bucks again five days later at Fiserv Forum.