Aaron Nesmith scored 18 points to help Indiana beat the Knicks, but he left the court in clear pain with a hand injury. Following Friday night’s 106-104 win, head coach Rick Carlisle offered no update regarding the forward’s status. The injury occurred as the Pacers chased a loose ball in the final seconds of the game. After the Knicks called a timeout, Nesmith slipped and remained down on the sideline for several moments.
Visible Pain and Immediate Exit
The scene on the sideline looked bad for the Indiana fan base. Nesmith eventually got up, but he held his left arm tight to his chest as he walked away. He briefly talked with a trainer before jogging back to the locker room while looking to be in considerable pain. Kelly Oubre Jr. checked in to replace him with the clock stopped at 2.8 seconds. This quick exit came after Nesmith had worked through right knee soreness earlier in the week.
Nesmith was originally listed as questionable for the Friday game, yet he ended up starting and playing 32 minutes. Despite the earlier knee issues, he was sharp offensively before the fall. He scored 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting in the game, including 2 of 3 from 3-point range. Pascal Siakam also scored 19 points to lead the Pacers to the win over New York in an NBA Cup game. Karl-Anthony Towns ended the contest by missing a potential game-tying 15-foot jumper at the buzzer, according to Associated Press.
Uncertain Status for Sunday
Nesmith is questionable for Sunday’s 1 p.m. game in Philadelphia against the 76ers due to a left hand sprain. The diagnosis was a sprain, but the coach had no update on its severity. Nesmith is averaging 12.3 points per game this season, so his absence would hurt the Pacers’ offense.
Knicks fans can only hope the injury keeps him out, but the Pacers will likely play it safe.
