Aaron Nesmith is continuing to prove how valuable he is to the Indiana Pacers after his late-game heroics in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. After it seemed like victory was guaranteed for the New York Knicks as they had a 14-point lead with less than three minutes left, Nesmith pulled off a generational heist, scoring 20 points in the fourth quarter to steal the victory for Indiana.
In the fourth quarter of the game, Nesmith shot 6-for-7 from the three-point line and looked unstoppable. Nesmith's six three-point field goals in the fourth quarter tied the NBA record for most three-pointers in a single quarter of a playoff game. Nobody else on the Pacers scored double-digit points in the fourth quarter, and this was the Vanderbilt alum's time to shine.
With this win, the Pacers now have a 1-0 series lead over the Knicks and are just three wins away from an NBA Finals appearance. Game 2 is on Friday night, and fans all over the world will be sure to tune in to see what the next entry to this historic rivalry looks like. However, no matter what happens, what Nesmith did in Game 1 was magical and will be talked about for a very, very long time.
Aaron Nesmith has been fantastic in the playoffs
While his performance in Game 1 will be the subject of conversation regarding Nesmith this postseason (and rightfully so), it is also important to remember that he has been this good throughout Indiana's run so far.
Through 11 playoff games this year, Nesmith is averaging 16 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists while also playing a crucial role on the defensive end. Furthermore, he is shooting an amazing 53.9% from the field and 53.8% from beyond the arc. It is no surprise for Pacers fans to see the 25-year-old playing well, but the level he is playing at is remarkable, and even his biggest fans may not have seen this coming.
Everybody knew that Nesmith would be important to not just Indiana's chances of eliminating the Knicks, but also their chances of winning it all. While he may not need to play near-perfect basketball like he did on Wednesday night, Nesmith needs to continue bringing his A-game to give the Pacers the best shot at bringing an NBA title home. Luckily for them, Nesmith has played up to the challenge time and time again. If he continues to do so, the Larry O'Brien Trophy making its way to Indiana will be a much more realistic possibility than many seem to realize.