The Indiana Pacers will enter Game 6 of the 2025 NBA Finals facing the end of their magical campaign. 50 wins and the franchise's first trip to the championship round in 25 years is certainly nothing to scoff, but Indiana didn't come this far to lie down and accept defeat.
Thankfully, the Pacers have one of the most clutch players in the NBA preparing to save their season—and it isn't Tyrese Haliburton.
The Pacers dropped Game 5 to the Oklahoma City Thunder in an infurating manner. Oklahoma City prevailed 120-109 behind 40 points from Jalen Williams and 31 points, 10 assists, four blocks, and two steals from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Perhaps those incredible performances would've been enough for the Thunder no matter what the Pacers did, but Indiana's 22 turnovers did it no favors.
With its back against the wall and a 3-2 deficit leaving no margin for error, the Pacers will need their best players to step up in the face of adversity. All eyes will be on Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, and Myles Turner, but it's Andrew Nembhard who may save their season.
Nembhard is known for his defense, but over the past two seasons, he's become one of the best elimination-game players in the NBA.
Andrew Nembhard: Mr. Elimination Game
In Nembhard's first elimination game, he posted 12 points and five assists on 6-of-12 shooting. Indiana squandered its opportunity to advance, but the next time out, he tallied 14 points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block as the Pacers knocked out the Milwaukee Bucks.
That began what has become one of the most underrated trends in the NBA: Nembhard showing out when the pressure has mounted highest.
Nembhard's next opportunity was Game 7 of the second round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks. He rose to the occasion, dropping 20 points, six assists, five rebounds, and a steal as Indiana advanced to the Conference Finals for the first time in 10 years.
The Pacers were unfortunately swept by the Boston Celtics, but Nembhard posted 24 points and 10 assists in the decisive Game 4.
Fast forward to 2025 and the trend has continued. Nembhard posted 15 points, six rebounds, six assists, three steals, and a block to help eliminate the Bucks once again. In the second round, he tallied 18 points, six assists, three rebounds, one block, and a steal to end the Cleveland Cavaliers' season.
Nembhard then posted 14 points, eight rebounds, six assists, one block, and a steal to help Indiana send the Knicks packing for a second straight year.
Nembhard is now averaging 16.7 points, 6.4 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 2.1 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game when Indiana is either facing elimination or able to send someone home. It's a remarkably reliable elevation in production from a player whose career postseason averages amount to 13.4 points, 5.0 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 1.0 steal, and 0.2 blocks
If the Pacers are going to force a Game 7 and keep their championship dreams alive, then they'll need elimination-game Nembhard in full force against the Thunder.