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Aaron Nesmith Rumors
During Haliburton's media availability before Game 5, he addressed Nesmith's growth into becoming a member of the Pacers' starting lineup. “When we traded for Double-A, I didn't know a ton about him,” Haliburton said. “We were in the same draft class and was always mentioned as two of the top shooters in our class. So, I knew that, but I didn't really know anything about him to be honest. Then, the more I've gotten to know him, there's not another guy out there that I'd rather go to war with, to be honest with you. I know that he's going to give 110 percent at all times.”
“He works his tail off to get to where he is,” Haliburton added. “I've said it many times, but every NBA team wants to have a guy like Aaron Nesmith. His effort is unbelievable. His energy. His attitude, all of those things. I know he's going to show up every day and be the same guy. I think that's what I appreciate about him the most.”
The Indiana Pacers came into the NBA Finals as huge underdogs against the Oklahoma City Thunder, but after stealing Game 1 on the road, the Pacers have plenty of life. The Thunder did come back and dominate in Game 2 to even up the series, but things are now shifting over to Indiana as the Pacers will be at home for the next two games. Indiana has not been to the NBA Finals since 2000, so this is the first time in 25 years that the team is hosting a home Finals game. If the Pacers are going to find a way to win this series, they are going to need to take advantage of these two home games. They won’t be able to do that without the help of their fans. Aaron Nesmith is expecting big things from the Indiana crowd. “They’ve been waiting 25 years for this, so they better bring the heat,” Aaron Nesmith said on Tuesday.
When asked by Andscape what he was thinking as he hit his game-winner Thursday, Haliburton said: “Game! If I get to my right hand, I feel confident it’s going to go in.” Said Nesmith on the Pacers’ fourth-quarter mentality: “Fight for one another. Give 1 percent more for the guy next to you. If we can do all do that, the results will show.”
All but one of those Indiana comebacks were on the road. “I’d say the [comeback] belief came in the regular season,” Pacers guard Aaron Nesmith told Andscape. “We finished the regular season with a lot of close games and a lot of games we were down and put ourselves in bad position. Honestly, we just looked at it as practice – practice to prepare for these moments.”
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Nesmith has been off the injury report the last few games after successful recovery and treatment from a tough ankle sprain. He was grateful to have four days between games. “I needed them,” he said. “I was looking forward to these days off. I took them. I'll be ready.”
“I thought ever since I got here, we just had a special group,” he said, sitting at his locker after the Game 6 victory. Even when the team was 9-14 to start 2024-25, Nesmith remembered that there was internal belief from the team that they could reach this level. They were right. “We just get working and get better day after day after day. This is just a combination of everybody’s hard work,” Nesmith added. He had a meaningful conversation with President Of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard on the court after the conference finals victory – Pritchard believed in Nesmith back in 2022 and acquired him in a trade that changed the trajectory of the Pacers.
Scott Agness: Pacers starting forward Aaron Nesmith is feeling better and responded well to treatment. He’s good to go. He was limited to 16mins in Game 5.
Aaron Nesmith expected to play in Game 5
Michael Scotto: Indiana Pacers swingman Aaron Nesmith (listed as questionable) is available tonight for Game 5 against the New York Knicks, a league source told @hoopshype.
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Steve Popper: Carlisle said Nesmith will play. And after Thibodeau said Towns is a game time decision Carlisle gave the probably more accurate “i fully expect he’s playing.”
Karl-Anthony Towns injury not serious?
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said he believed “it’s a good sign” that Towns was able to remain in the game, and “we’ll see where he is after he gets evaluated” by the medical staff. Towns collided with Indiana’s Aaron Nesmith with the Knicks trailing by seven with 2:11 remaining. He initially was whistled for an offensive foul, but Thibodeau challenged the call and it was ruled that Towns had been pushed into Nesmith by Pacers center Myles Turner.
“When I got hurt, they came up to me, and they were like, ‘We want to see how you feel,’” Nesmith said after scoring 16 points in the Pacers’ 130-121 victory Tuesday, leaving Indiana one win shy of the NBA Finals. “I was like, I don’t care how I feel. I’m playing,” he said. “This is what we all live for. This is (what) we’ve been preparing for all year long, our entire lifetimes. These moments, I can’t miss these moments.”
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