Latest news with #Nesmith
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Boston Celtics forward was ‘blindsided' by Pacers trade (report)
While Aaron Nesmith has starred for the Pacers on his way to another NBA Finals appearance, to start his career, he was just looking for an opportunity with the Celtics. Nesmith was picked 14th overall in the 2020 draft, spending the first two seasons of his career in Boston. But playing time was hard to come by on such a loaded roster. So after the C's made the 2022 NBA Finals, they dealt Nesmith to the Pacers as part of the Malcolm Brogdon trade. Turns out, Nesmith took it hard, according to his father, William Nesmith, who spoke with ClutchPoints in a recent story. Advertisement 'He was disappointed. He liked playing for Boston. He was actually out playing golf when he got the call,' the elder Nesmith told ClutchPoints. 'He didn't know. So, he was blindsided by it and wasn't so happy about that.' Nesmith has flourished with Indiana since the trade, developing into a stellar 3-and-D player. That's why he was drafted out of Vanderbilt in the middle of the pandemic as his shooting and defense were expected to be his calling cards. Nesmith had a relatively slow start to his career, though that was partly due to the wings in front of him in the C's rotation. But now, Nesmith looks the part of a legit contributor. These playoffs, he's averaging 13.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 20 games, shooting 49.1% on his 3-pointers. Nesmith has also had some massive games, including Game 1 of the East Finals against the Knicks, where he was crucial to the victory. The Pacers are currently tied 2-2 with the Thunder in the Finals going into Monday's Game 5 in Oklahoma City. So, it all worked out for both sides. The Celtics eventually flipped Brogdon to the Trail Blazers as part of the Jrue Holiday deal. Boston went on to win the 2024 NBA Finals, its 18th championship in franchise history. Nesmith got much-needed playing time for his development as he should enjoy a long NBA career. Advertisement 'I'm never ever going to be angry at Boston because Boston picked him up in the lottery with a broken foot,' William Nesmith said. 'It didn't seem like it was going to work out in Boston. So, I was happy when he came over here and he got a chance to play because I realized when you get to this level, you still need a little luck, and you need to be in the right place. More Celtics content Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Celtics guard credits Joe Mazzulla's impact amid NBA Finals run
The Indiana Pacers are two wins away from an improbable NBA Finals win, and one former Celtics wing has been an integral part of their success. Aaron Nesmith is putting together some of the best basketball of his career during the past few weeks, averaging 13.2 points and 5.8 rebounds during 20 postseason appearances while playing tenacious defense against the 68-win Thunder. Nesmith drew an offensive foul in the second quarter of Game 4 on Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, which drew an anecdote from ABC play-by-play announcer Mike Breen about a conversation he had with Nesmith. Advertisement '[Nesmith] said somebody who made a huge impact on him was Joe Mazzulla,' Breen said. 'He said the guy was with me every day, he pushed me and pushed me. He made such a huge impact on him.' Nesmith spent the first two years of his career in Boston after being taken at No. 14 overall in the 2020 NBA Draft. Mazzulla worked with Nesmith directly as an assistant during those two years when Nesmith was largely developing and mostly outside of Boston's regular rotation. The Celtics elected to trade Nesmith as part of a deal for Malcolm Brogdon in June 2022, just months before Mazzulla was named Celtics interim coach. Even before Nesmith's breakout in Indiana, Mazzulla was high on the former Boston prospect, highlighting the areas where he's thrived during his three years in Indiana. Advertisement 'His shooting is getting better,' Mazzulla said back in 2022, the year after the Celtics traded Nesmith. 'I think one of the things he doesn't get enough credit for is his defense. A great individual defender. A great pick-and-roll defender. So, he's really found a role there of being a great defender and bringing energy to the team.' Mazzulla also credited Nesmith for how he handled a challenging situation in Boston. 'He came into a situation where he had an opportunity and it was also up and down for him and I thought he handled it with great professionalism,' Mazzulla said. 'He works really hard. I thought he played hard, and I watched a lot of film of the other team, he plays really, really hard. So, I'm really excited for the situation that he's in. He's taken advantage of it.' Nesmith and the Pacers will look to reclaim the series lead in the NBA Finals on Monday night as the 2–2 series shifts back to Oklahoma City for Game 5. More Celtics content Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pacers vs. Thunder odds: Best bets, predictions for NBA Finals Game 4
The Indiana Pacers won Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night, 116-107, over the Oklahoma City Thunder as 5.5-point home underdogs, continuing Indiana's impressive postseason run against the spread. The Thunder are now 0-8 ATS on the road in the 2025 playoffs. Oklahoma City came into the NBA Finals as huge -700 favorites at BetMGM, and very few people expected them to be down 2-1 in the series. But even with the deficit, Oklahoma City is still the -250 favorite to win the series at BetMGM, with Indiana a +200 underdog. Advertisement Oklahoma City is a 6.5-point road favorite in Game 4 with a total of 226.5. The spread is the biggest for any road favorite since at least the 1991 Finals. The second-largest was the 2001 Los Angeles Lakers, a team that was -6 in Game 5 at the Philadelphia 76ers in that series. Yahoo Sports asked handicapper Jon Metler for his thoughts on some best bets for Game 4 of the Finals: Game 4: Oklahoma City Thunder (-6.5, 226.5) at Indiana Pacers Metler: "All eyes were on Bennedict Mathurin in Game 3, but let's not forget it was Obi Toppin who poured in 17 points in Game 1 after knocking down five triples against the Thunder. After going under his point total in Game 3, this number has dropped from 10.5 to 9.5, creating an edge we can attack. Toppin scored eight points in Game 3 but failed to hit a 3-pointer on three attempts. If Toppin was knocking down 3s and still falling short of his total, that would be a red flag — but it's quite the opposite, as he managed eight points without a 3-pointer. Advertisement "Toppin is giving the Pacers good minutes, leading them in plus-minus in Games 1 and 3, and there's no reason to assume he'll see a dip in minutes in Game 4. His athleticism has served him well against the Thunder defense, and I believe the over 9.5 points should be trading closer to -195 than even money." Best bet: Obi Toppin over 9.5 points (+100) Metler: "Yes, you're reading that correctly — the total is 0.5 for (Aaron) Nesmith, and the over is trading at plus money. Nesmith isn't a high-assist player by any means, but this is a Rudy Gobert-type line. The bottom line is that Nesmith is a starter on a team where the ball doesn't stick, so it's very possible to luck into an assist without doing anything particularly special. Advertisement "Nesmith has only one assist in the series, but he's averaging 2.7 potential assists per game. That's a high number for someone whose over 0.5 line is priced at +110. Nesmith played just 22 minutes in Game 3, which I don't think will be the norm going forward — but even if he sees the same limited minutes in Game 4, there's still a solid edge on this prop. I think Nesmith should be trading closer to -180 for Over 0.5 assists in Game 4." Best bet: Aaron Nesmith over 0.5 assists (+110) Metler: "Mark Daigneault has moved away from the double-big lineup in the NBA Finals, and now we're seeing (Isaiah) Hartenstein priced like a player who will play fewer than 20 minutes in Game 4. That's where the edge lies — even if Hartenstein only plays 18 minutes, there's still value on this prop. As Myles Turner continues to bully Chet Holmgren in the paint, who's to say Hartenstein doesn't start stealing some of Holmgren's minutes? "The Thunder have tried using Holmgren at the nail as a passer to cutters in the dunker spot — a role much better suited for Hartenstein. We saw Hartenstein thrive in that exact setup in Game 2, where he racked up 9 potential assists. Even with limited minutes, I believe Hartenstein's 2+ assists should be trading closer to -190, creating a clear probability gap we can exploit." Best bet: Isaiah Hartenstein 2+ assists (-128)
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Aaron Nesmith's injury report for NBA Finals Game 3: Indiana Pacers vs OKC Thunder (June 11, 2025)
Is Aaron Nesmith playing tonight? (Image via: Nic Antaya/ Getty Images) The Indiana Pacers head into Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder with forward Aaron Nesmith expected to play despite a lingering ankle injury. His availability remains crucial for the Pacers as they aim to take a higher series lead. How Aaron Nesmith's injury happened Nesmith suffered a right ankle sprain in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks. The injury occurred after he landed awkwardly on Jalen Brunson's foot in the third quarter. Despite the pain, Nesmith returned to finish the game, showcasing his toughness. Key Aaron Nesmith moments after the injury: - Played through discomfort in subsequent games - Scored 16 points in Game 4 but was limited to 3 points in 16 minutes in Game 5 - Swelling and stiffness affected his mobility and shooting efficiency Recovery process leading up to the NBA Finals The five-day break between the Eastern Conference Finals and the NBA Finals allowed Nesmith to focus on recovery. His rehab included: Indiana Pacers injury report for Game 3 (Image via NBA) Treatment Purpose Cold tub therapy Reduce swelling and inflammation Hyperbaric chamber sessions Accelerate tissue healing Red light therapy Improve circulation and reduce stiffness Targeted physical therapy Restore ankle mobility and strength Aaron Nesmith acknowledged the importance of rest, saying, 'I needed 'em. I was looking forward to these days off. I took 'em, and I'll be ready.' Nesmith's impact on the Pacers' playoff run Despite the injury, Nesmith has been a key contributor in the postseason for the Indiana Pacers : - Shooting 50% from three-point range, providing crucial floor spacing - Serving as the primary perimeter defender against elite scorers - Playing through pain, earning praise from teammates and coaches His defensive versatility and shooting make him indispensable, especially against the Thunder's high-powered offense. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play Chess on Your PC, Free Play Classic Chess Install Now Undo What to expect in Game 3 from Aaron Nesmith Nesmith was fully cleared for Game 1 and is not listed on the injury report. However, the ankle sprain may still slightly limit his explosiveness. The Pacers will rely on his: - Defense against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Jalen Williams - Three-point shooting to stretch the floor - Energy and hustle plays With the series shifting to Oklahoma City, Nesmith's ability to play through discomfort could be the difference-maker. His resilience embodies the Pacers' underdog mentality as they chase their first NBA championship. Also read: What is Tyrese Haliburton's injury report for NBA Finals Game 2 Indiana Pacers vs OKC Thunder Game 3 tips off tonight at 8:30 PM ET, with Aaron Nesmith expected to be in the starting lineup.
Time of India
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Aaron Nesmith's injury report for NBA Finals Game 2: Indiana Pacers vs. OKC Thunder (June 8, 2025)
Is Aaron Nesmith playing tonight? (Image via NBA) The Indiana Pacers head into Game 2 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder with forward Aaron Nesmith expected to play despite a lingering ankle injury. His availability remains crucial for the Pacers as they aim to take a 2-0 series lead. How Aaron Nesmith's injury happened Nesmith suffered a right ankle sprain in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks. The injury occurred after he landed awkwardly on Jalen Brunson's foot in the third quarter. Despite the pain, Nesmith returned to finish the game, showcasing his toughness. Key Aaron Nesmith moments after the injury: - Played through discomfort in subsequent games - Scored 16 points in Game 4 but was limited to 3 points in 16 minutes in Game 5 - Swelling and stiffness affected his mobility and shooting efficiency Recovery process leading up to the NBA Finals The five-day break between the Eastern Conference Finals and the NBA Finals allowed Nesmith to focus on recovery. His rehab included: Treatment Purpose Cold tub therapy Reduce swelling and inflammation Hyperbaric chamber sessions Accelerate tissue healing Red light therapy Improve circulation and reduce stiffness Targeted physical therapy Restore ankle mobility and strength Aaron Nesmith acknowledged the importance of rest, saying, *'I needed 'em. I was looking forward to these days off. I took 'em, and I'll be ready.'* Nesmith's impact on the Pacers' playoff run Despite the injury, Nesmith has been a key contributor in the postseason: - Shooting 50% from three-point range, providing crucial floor spacing - Serving as the primary perimeter defender against elite scorers - Playing through pain, earning praise from teammates and coaches His defensive versatility and shooting make him indispensable, especially against the Thunder's high-powered offense. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo What to expect in Game 2 Nesmith was fully cleared for Game 1 and is not listed on the injury report. However, the ankle sprain may still slightly limit his explosiveness. The Pacers will rely on his: - Defense against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Jalen Williams - Three-point shooting to stretch the floor - Energy and hustle plays With the series shifting to Oklahoma City, Nesmith's ability to play through discomfort could be the difference-maker. His resilience embodies the Pacers' underdog mentality as they chase their first NBA championship. Also read: What is Tyrese Haliburton's injury report for NBA Finals Game 2 Indiana Pacers vs OKC Thunder Game 2 tips off tonight at 8:30 PM ET, with Aaron Nesmith expected to be in the starting lineup.
