Pascal Siakam helps Pacers hold off Trail Blazers

Pascal Siakam scored five of his season-high-tying 29 points in a key late 7-0 spurt and the Indiana Pacers came on strong at the end to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 121-114 on Wednesday in Indianapolis.Tyrese Haliburton played a supporting role with 28 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds and Bennedict Mathurin chipped in with 24 points and 10 boards for the Pacers, who led just 103-100 after a basket by Portland’s Deandre Ayton with 6:45 to play.But Siakam dropped in 3-point and 2-point baskets, and when Quenton Jackson turned a Haliburton assist into a dunk, all of a sudden Indiana had opened a 10-point cushion with 4:40 to go.Portland never got closer than five the rest of the way.Seeking to end a five-game trip with a second win, the Trail Blazers led by as many as 10 in the first half. However, Anfernee Simons had to hit a 3-pointer in the final seconds of the second period to send the teams to the break even at 60-all, setting up a tightly contested second half.Siakam shot 12-for-20 from the floor and also found time for seven rebounds and four assists.