Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith suffered a frightening ankle injury midway through the third quarter of Game 3 in the Eastern Conference finals against the New York Knicks on Sunday. At the time, Indiana was aiming to establish a dominant 3-0 lead in the series, making his injury a significant concern for the team’s chances.
With 6:06 remaining in the third quarter and the Pacers leading 70-57, Nesmith drove along the baseline toward Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson. While attempting to pass from close range, Nesmith landed awkwardly on Brunson’s foot, twisting his right ankle and falling to the floor in visible pain. He left the court shortly after, having contributed eight points, six rebounds, two steals, and one three-pointer on 2-for-5 shooting before the incident.
Following the injury, Nesmith was assisted off the floor and taken to the locker room, where his status was initially uncertain. TNT sideline reporter Allie LaForce soon confirmed that Nesmith was diagnosed with a right ankle sprain, though he was considered “questionable” for returning to the game, leaving fans and analysts cautiously optimistic.
Previous Ankle Troubles Frame Current Injury Concerns
The anxiety surrounding Nesmith’s current injury is heightened by his history with ankle issues. Earlier this season, he suffered a significant ankle setback during a November 1 road game loss against the New Orleans Pelicans, an injury that sidelined him for 35 games before he returned in mid-January. His resilience in overcoming that hardship has been key to Indiana’s push toward consecutive Eastern Conference finals appearances.
Nesmith played an instrumental role during Wednesday’s Game 1 overtime victory against the Knicks, delivering a career-high-tying 30 points with a career-best eight three-pointers on 9-for-13 shooting, including 20 points and six threes in the fourth quarter, helping the Pacers erase a 17-point deficit and force overtime.
Aaron Nesmith looks like he has a lateral ankle sprain on this play right here
This could be SIGNIFICANT in Game 3 pic.twitter.com/io8IqgUzKh
— Dr. Evan Jeffries, DPT (@GameInjuryDoc) May 26, 2025
Nesmith Returns to Game Despite Ankle Injury Amid Pacers’ Struggles
Despite uncertainty about his condition, Nesmith returned to the Pacers’ bench late in the third quarter to a warm reception from the Gainbridge Fieldhouse crowd. He officially reentered the game with 7:03 remaining in the fourth quarter. However, the Pacers had already lost much of their lead in his absence, as the Knicks overcame a 20-point deficit to edge ahead 89-88 by the time Nesmith took the court again.
Ultimately, New York won the game 106-100, reducing Indiana’s series advantage to 2-1. Nesmith’s return, however, suggests that he is expected to remain available for the rest of the series, an important factor for the Pacers as they strive to reach their first NBA Finals since 2000. The series will continue with Game 4 scheduled for Tuesday in Indiana.