Through much of Game 3, the Indiana Pacers looked in control. The home crowd was buzzing, the lead was solid, and the energy suggested a commanding 3-0 series advantage was within reach. Then, Aaron Nesmith went down.
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
Midway through the third quarter, Nesmith landed awkwardly on Jalen Brunson’s foot and suffered a right ankle sprain. The Pacers, who had built a 20-point lead and were dictating the pace, saw their grip on the game loosen almost immediately. During the 11 minutes he spent off the floor, Indiana was outscored by 14 points — a swing that reignited the Knicks.
Nesmith did return in the fourth, fighting through visible discomfort. But he wasn’t the same. The defensive stopper who had limited Brunson in Games 1 and 2 wasn’t able to match the intensity, and New York capitalized. Karl-Anthony Towns erupted for 20 points in the final quarter, while the Pacers’ defense, usually anchored by Nesmith on the perimeter, faltered under pressure.
Head coach Rick Carlisle admitted postgame that they won’t know more about Nesmith’s availability until Monday. “Regardless of who’s out there, we’ve got to finish games better,” he said. But Nesmith’s absence was felt. He’s the defensive glue of Indiana’s rotation, and without him at full strength, the Knicks found room to operate — and the momentum to steal the win.
Now trailing just 2-1 in the series, the Knicks have life again. For the Pacers, the focus shifts to recovery. Game 4 is set for Tuesday in Indianapolis, and whether Nesmith can return at full capacity could shape the direction of the series.
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