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NBA Releases Pacers Injury Announcement Ahead of Game 5 vs. Knicks

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sean Deveney | Last updated May 29, 2025 12:36 AM ET

Give credit to Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith. He did not have the eye-popping numbers that teammates Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton did in the Pacers' Game 4 win over the Knicks, but he was effective. Nesmith chipped in 16 points and his ability to defend Jalen Brunson with size and physicality continued to present problems for the New York star.

Nesmith was a plus-20 in the box score, the best of the night among the Pacers.

Still, on Sunday in Game 3, Nesmith suffered a twisted right ankle in the third quarter of what wound up being a Pacers loss. Nesmith ground through the pain, and returned to the floor to play through the injury.

Nesmith was listed as questionable on the Game 4 injury list, with the report noting his injury: "Right Ankle; Sprain."

On Wednesday, ahead of Game 5 in New York, and with the Pacers leading, 3-1, in the series, the Pacers again put out their daily injury update. And despite being on the floor for 32 minutes in Game 4, Nesmith is still listed as "questionable" on the official report that the team must file with the league.

According to NBA protocols, anyone listed as "questionable" on the injury report is purported to have a 50% chance of playing the next day. That can be upgraded (or downgraded) ahead of Thursday night's game.

Nesmith has averaged 15.1 points in the playoffs, and has been one of the drivers of the Pacers' remarkable shooting success. He is making 52.5% of his shots and 51.9% of his 3-pointers in the postseason. Against the Knicks, remarkably, he is making 61.9% of his 3-pointers, at 13-for-21, and averaging 16.5 points.

Game 5 will tip off from Madison Square Garden at 8 p.m., with Indiana one win from an NBA Finals bid.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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