Aaron Nesmith, a key player for the Indiana Pacers, is likely to be a game-time decision for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals against the New York Knicks. He experienced a mild sprained right ankle in Game 3 of the first-round series vs. the Pelicans. The fate of his participation will be determined Tuesday night.
Nesmith has been a pivotal contributor for the Pacers this postseason, starting all 13 games and averaging 15.1 points per game. He’s put up big numbers as he focuses on rebounding the basketball, pulling down 6.2 boards per game. His shooting numbers are otherworldly too, with a 52% FG overall and an insane 54% 3PT percentage. Over that period, he tied an NBA playoff record by making six 3-pointers in the fourth quarter of Game 1. This superhuman performance powered the Pacers to an unlikely OT comeback victory.
And of late, Nesmith’s health has been a major concern. He departed Game 3 in the third quarter after rolling his ankle. He left the game on crutches and walked through the locker room on an obvious limp after the game. This indicates that he would have been in significant pain. Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle confirmed that Nesmith “predictably woke up sore” following the sprain. This puts his status for this weekend into doubt.
Despite this setback, Nesmith returned to the court with 7:03 remaining in the fourth quarter of Game 3. Yet he played through the injury to complete the match, showcasing his resolve and desire to win for the club. However, now his status is up in the air as the Pacers head into a pivotal play-in tournament matchup against the New York Knicks.
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