INDIANAPOLIS — Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith left the game with an apparent right ankle injury with 6:06 to go in the third quarter of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Knicks. He is listed as questionable to return to the game according to Pacers public relations.
Nesmith drove the baseline, threw a pass and fell and appeared to turn the ankle when he landed on a Knicks defender. He missed 35 games with an ankle sprain earlier this season from Nov. 1 to Jan. 16.
Nesmith averaged 12.0 points per game this season and he’s been even better in the playoffs. Nesmith entered Sunday’s game averaging 15.7 points per game on 54.1% shooting including 54.4% from 3-point range. Nesmith scored 30 points on 9 of 13 shooting including 8 of 9 from 3-point range in Game 1, leading the Pacers’ remarkable comeback with a record six 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.
Nesmith returned to the bench with 1:35 left in the third quarter. And returned to the game with 7 minutes left in the fourth quarter with the Pacers down 89-88.
