In Sunday night's Game 3 loss to the New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers wing Aaron Nesmith suffered a right ankle injury in the third quarter. He was initially listed as questionable to return, but he was able to get back on the court. However, in seven minutes played in the fourth quarter, Nesmith went 0-for-3 from the field and recorded just one rebound and a block.
On Tuesday night, the Pacers and Knicks will meet up for a pivotal Game 4. While the Pacers will look to take a commanding 3-1 series lead in the conference finals, the Knicks will aim to tie the series up heading back to New York.
Here is the full injury report for the Pacers and Knicks ahead of Game 4, including the latest injury updates regarding Nesmith.
Pacers vs. Knicks Game 4 injury report
- Isaiah Jackson (Achilles) - OUT
- Aaron Nesmith (ankle) - AVAILABLE
According to head coach Rick Carlisle, via Forbes' Tony East, Aaron Nesmith was likely going to be considered a game-time decision for Tuesday night. However, NBA insider Shams Charania reported a few hours before tip-off that Nesmith will be available to play, but it remains unknown if he will be limited.
Nesmith missed a good chunk of time earlier in the season due to an ankle injury. On a bit of a positive note for him and the Pacers, his injury this time around is on the opposite ankle. Still, this is a big concern. ESPN's Tim Bontemps reported that Nesmith had "a noticeable limp" after the game. Even though he is available, this is far from ideal for the Pacers.
If Nesmith has to play on a restriction, the Pacers will likely rely a bit more on Bennedict Mathurin or Ben Sheppard. This is not a great position for Indiana to be in. Mathurin has struggled all series long and only played eight minutes in Game 3. Additionally, though Sheppard has been decent against the Knicks, it will take a lot for him to replicate Nesmith's impact.
Nesmith has played a big role in Indiana's playoff success so far, and that remains true against the Knicks. In Games 1 and 2, the South Carolina native averaged 21 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1.5 blocks while shooting a ridiculous 65% from the field and 83.3% from the three-point line. Additionally, Nesmith was instrumental in the Pacers' late-game comeback in Game 1, and he has contributed heavily on defense.
The Pacers are just two wins away from the NBA Finals, but the series is far from over. Nesmith's injury will be crucial to monitor as it could make a significant impact on the end result.