Indiana Pacers DVOA, Stats, & NBA Rankings

Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (ankle) has been cleared to play in Thursday's Game 5 against the New York Knicks. He was initially listed as questionable for the contest due to a right ankle sprain Nesmith suffered in Game 3 of the series. Nesmith has been excellent in the series, averaging 16.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.5 steals with red-hot 61.9 percent shooting from downtown. The Knicks must do a better job guarding Nesmith around the three-point line; otherwise, their season could be over following Thursday night.

Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (ankle) is listed as questionable for Thursday's Game 5 against the New York Knicks. He rolled his right ankle in Game 3 of the series and was also deemed questionable for Tuesday's Game 4. However, Nesmith managed to play through the injury, recording 16 points, three rebounds, one assist, and two steals in 32 minutes. Since he had no issues playing in Game 4, it seems likely that Nesmith will remain in the lineup on Thursday night. His presence limits the impact that Ben Sheppard and Bennedict Mathurin can have, although the latter impressed with a 20-point performance in just 12 minutes during Tuesday's 130-121 win.

Indiana Pacers forward/center Pascal Siakam shot 11-for-21 from the field and 5-for-6 at the charity stripe en route to 30 points in Tuesday's 130-121 victory over the New York Knicks. He matched his best performance of the postseason from behind the arc with a 3-for-4 effort. Following a relatively quiet night in Game 3, Siakam did a little bit of everything for the Pacers, finishing with five rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block. The 2019 NBA champion had his second 30-point outing in the series. New York has allowed him to take 20-plus shots in the games Siakam has gone off for 30-plus points, while he has attempted only 30 shots combined in the two games where his offensive production was limited. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau must devise a plan to limit Siakam's touches to boost his team's chances in the series.

Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton had a special outing in Tuesday's Game 4 against the New York Knicks, leading his team to a 130-121 victory. He became the first player in NBA history to record a triple-double in a Conference Finals game without a single turnover. Haliburton filled the stat sheet with 32 points, 12 rebounds, 15 assists, and four steals, leading his team in all four categories. The Pacers star shot 11-for-23 from the field, including 5-for-12 from outside, and finished 5-for-6 at the line. The matchup against the Knicks appears to be suiting Haliburton very well, as he has significantly increased his production. Through four games, he has averaged 24.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 11.0 assists, and 2.5 steals.

Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (ankle) has been listed as questionable for Tuesday's Game 4 against the New York Knicks. Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle has said Nesmith will "likely" be a game-time decision for the contest. The 25-year-old is trying to overcome a right ankle sprain suffered in Sunday's Game 3 loss. Having Nesmith available would be crucial for the Pacers, as he is among the team's top defensive players and has shown incredible shooting efficiency in the postseason. Nesmith has fired in 53.5 percent of his triples in the playoffs, with his biggest performance coming in Game 1 against the Knicks, where he finished 8-for-9 from downtown. If Nesmith is unable to play Tuesday night, Ben Sheppard and Bennedict Mathurin will likely be called upon to take on more responsibilities.