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The Indiana Pacers avoided a 3-0 series deficit against the New York Knicks, grinding their way to a 111-106 victory at home in Game 3 on Friday. However, the win may have come at a price for the Pacers.
Star guard Tyrese Haliburton and forward Aaron Nesmith both got banged up and are now questionable to play Sunday, via the NBA injury report. Haliburton has low back spasms, a sacral contusion, and a right ankle sprain. Meanwhile, Nesmith is dealing with right shoulder soreness.
With the Knicks also missing OG Anunoby, both teams look to be significantly weakened ahead of Game 4. This is the nature of the NBA Playoffs, as the entire league is dealing with injuries at this point in the season.
Will Haliburton and Nesmith play? If they do, how effective will they be?
Haliburton and Nesmith will probably play for the Pacers, but not at 100%
Haliburton left it all out on the floor in a masterful Game 3 performance. The two-time All-Star recorded 35 points on 14-of-26 shooting with seven assists, four rebounds, two steals, and one block across 38 minutes. However, he was limping at the end of the game and was clearly in pain.
Nesmith, on the other hand, scored 10 points on 3-of-6 shooting with six rebounds, one assist and one steal across 38 minutes. The 24-year-old continues to be a solid role player for Indiana, but he may have a hard time performing at this level in Game 4 depending on how bad his shoulder injury is.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle sounded off on Game 3, via Reuters.
“Whatever happens, you've got to wipe it clean,” Carlisle said. “The next game is a completely new palate. You've just got to get ready to compete when that time comes.”
The issue is, that the new palate won't be as fruitful for Indiana if Haliburton and Nesmith are hobbled. Nesmith was a critical defensive presence for the club, holding Knicks star Jalen Brunson to 6-of-18 shooting from the floor, also forcing four of his five turnovers.
Brunson complimented Nesmith's efforts on defense, via Kristian Winfield of The New York Daily News.
“Yeah, he played really well. Played great defense. Just gotta give him a lot of credit,” Brunson said. “Just didn’t do the things that I normally know I can do, no matter who’s guarding me, but he did a really good job. Hats off to him, and I just gotta be better. I gotta make the correct adjustments and be ready for Sunday.”
If Nesmith can't replicate that performance, Sunday could be a long day for the Pacers. The Vanderbilt alum is Indiana's only player who's been able to effectively guard Brunson one-on-one.
Meanwhile, Haliburton is the straw that stirs the drink for the Pacers' offense. The 2024 NBA assists leader is the team's best player and offensive facilitator. Without him at full strength, Indiana could struggle to score on New York's defense, which ranked ninth in the regular season with a 112.4 defensive rating. Time will tell how much these injuries affect him and Nesmith,
