Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith will be a game-time decision for Tuesday’s Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals after he was injured during Game 3 against the New York Knicks.
Nesmith woke up Monday with a sore right ankle, head coach Rick Carlisle told reporters. He was listed as questionable on the NBA’s injury report with a right ankle sprain.
The injury occurred in the third quarter of Sunday’s home loss to New York. With just over six minutes left in the quarter, Nesmith was attempting a pass as he was driving down the baseline, and his foot landed awkwardly on Knicks guard Jalen Brunson. Nesmith needed help leaving the court and was taken to the locker room before returned in the fourth quarter.
New York won Game 3, 106-100, to avoid falling in a 3-0 hole. Indiana leads the series 2-1.
Nesmith has been a catalyst for the Pacers in their second straight Eastern Conference finals appearance. Not only has he exceled defending Brunson, but he powered the Game 1 comeback victory. He scored a career-high 30 points and was 8-for-9 from 3-point land, with six of those deep shots occurring in the fourth quarter.
Despite scoring just eight points in the Game 3 loss, Nesmith has been averaging 15.1 points per game on 52.3% shooting in the 2025 NBA playoffs. His 53.5% 3-point shooting mark ranks as the best among players remaining in this year’s playoffs. He also averages 6.2 rebounds a game.
Game 4 between Indiana and New York is Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.