Aaron Nesmith emerges as the X-factor fueling Indiana Pacers’ quest for back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals glory

Emerging as the Unlikely Hero: Aaron Nesmith’s Rise

In the high-stakes arena of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals, every team seeks that unexpected edge, a player who can tip the scales in their favor. For the Indiana Pacers, that edge appears to be Aaron Nesmith, an athlete whose journey from a role player to a potential game-changer encapsulates the unpredictable nature of basketball success.

Nesmith’s evolution over the past two seasons with the Indiana Pacers has been nothing short of remarkable. Initially recognized for his defensive prowess and reliability from beyond the arc, Nesmith has transformed into a player whose contributions cannot be overstated. His shooting, in particular, has reached new heights, making him one of the league’s most efficient scorers from long range.

This remarkable improvement in his game has not only bolstered the Pacers’ offense but also solidified their defense, allowing them to maintain pressure on both ends of the court. Nesmith’s ability to seamlessly blend scoring with defensive tenacity makes him a quintessential 3-and-D player, a valuable asset in today’s NBA landscape.

As the Pacers continue their journey through the playoffs, the spotlight on Nesmith is bound to intensify. His ability to rise to the occasion, to transform from a supporting player into a potential X-factor, speaks volumes about his character and work ethic. It’s a testament to the idea that in basketball, stars can emerge from the most unexpected places.

Nesmith’s story is far from over. With the Eastern Conference Finals on the horizon, his performances could very well dictate the Pacers’ fate. It’s a challenge he seems ready to embrace, a chance to prove that his emergence as a key player for Indiana is no fluke.

A Reflection on Unlikely Heroes

Aaron Nesmith’s journey with the Indiana Pacers serves as a reminder of the unpredictable beauty of sports. It highlights how determination, coupled with opportunity, can propel an athlete from the fringes to the forefront of their team’s success. As the Pacers gear up for their playoff battles, Nesmith stands as a symbol of hope, a player whose story inspires both his teammates and fans alike.

His rise underscores the essence of basketball—a game where heroes can emerge in the most unexpected moments, changing the course of history. For the Indiana Pacers, Nesmith represents not just a potential X-factor in their playoff run but a beacon of what dedication and belief can achieve in the quest for greatness.

Aaron Nesmith played a major role in the Indiana Pacers' shocking Game 1 victory over the New York Knicks, mostly for his performance in the clutch. In the win, Nesmith hit six three-point field goals in the fourth quarter. This was tied for the most three-point field goals in a  single quarter in the playoffs, alongside big names like Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, and Damian Lillard.

Wednesday night was like a movie for the Pacers as they pulled off a miraculous comeback late in the game. After securing the stunning victory, they are now just three wins away from  making it to the NBA finals and seven wins away from winning their first NBA Championship in franchise history. Many players stepped up for them when they needed it, but without Nesmith nearly making history, the Pacers never would have gotten the opportunity to pull off the comeback and inch closer to making their championship dreams come true.

Aaron Nesmith was lights-out in Game 1
Pascal Siakam is crucial to Indiana's success
The Knicks have the best clutch player in the series
Bennedict Mathurin loves playing against the Knicks 

Hopefully for the Pacers, they do not need Nesmith to have another near-perfect performance to steal another victory away from New York in Game 2. However, they should at least feel great knowing that he has this in him. Nesmith has developed into one of the Pacers' most important players because of his contributions on both sides of the ball. He is a great defender who brings the energy, but he is also a fantastic three-point shooter, which was obvious on Wednesday.

In order for the Pacers to build off this momentum and continue their hot streak into the rest of the series, they will need the whole team to bring their A-game. This will include Nesmith, whose late-game heroics may have single-handedly saved the Pacers in Game 1. While he is not their best player, Nesmith is proving to be one of the most valuable players on Indiana's roster. If he stays hot, the Knicks may not even stand a chance against a Pacers team that continues to shock the world  time and time again.

For the second year in a row, the Indiana Pacers will appear in the Eastern Conference Finals. After losing to the eventual champion Boston Celtics in a four-game sweep last year, the Pacers will look to right their wrongs and make it to the NBA Finals this year for the first time since 2000. The Pacers have one obstacle in their way, and it is a well-known one in the New York Knicks.

Indiana and New York have history with one another, and this is just the latest chapter in their story. The two teams have gone head-to-head in the conference finals three times in the past, with the Knicks having won two of those series. Furthermore, the last time both teams made the NBA Finals, they defeated the other in the conference finals.

The Pacers defeated the Knicks in the playoffs last year in a thrilling seven-game battle in the second round, and they will hope for the same result this year. In the regular season, the Knicks won the season series 2-1, though they did not meet up after the All-Star break.

Here is the full 2025 Eastern Conference Finals schedule.

Since the Knicks enter the series as the No. 3 seed, they will have homecourt advantage over the No. 4 seed Pacers. Each game will be played every other day, starting on Wednesday, May 21. Additionally, every game will be played at 8 PM EST on TNT on cable and MAX on streaming.

What makes this conference finals even more interesting is that it will be the final playoff series aired on TNT  as their NBA deal will expire after this season. This Pacers and Knicks matchup being TNT's final call is a bit poetic, especially considering that Reggie Miller will be on the call throughout the whole series. Miller, a Pacers legend, is well aware of the team's rivalry with the Knicks and played a big role in it in the 1990s.

Both of these teams match up with each other on paper, and given their long and short-term history, this series has the makings to be a very intense battle. The winner of the series will punch their ticket to the NBA Finals. Indiana has never won an NBA Championship, and the Knicks have not won one since 1973. However, one of these teams will have the opportunity to  buck that trend this season.

The New York Knicks are one of the best three-point defending teams in the NBA Playoffs, and the Pacers have just the guy to work around that in the conference finals--Pascal Siakam. Through 12 playoff games, the Knicks are forcing teams to shoot just 34% from beyond the arc. This includes a six-game series against the Boston Celtics, who rely heavily on the three-ball.

Indiana has been the best three-point shooting team in the playoffs by a wide margin, shooting 40.6%  from three-point land. It would make sense for them to keep doing what has worked for them so far, but it could also be wise to change things up to counteract New York's perimeter defense. In doing so, they would have to rely heavily on Siakam, whose play in the post and in the mid-range could be what decides this series.

In his first full year with the Pacers, Siakam has continued to elevate them on both sides of the ball. Offensively, he has added a completely new dynamic to the team due to his mid-range prowess. Against the Knicks, who have fantastic perimeter defenders in guys like Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby, the Pacers will need Siakam to be on his A-game in case they opt to stay inside the perimeter a bit more.

The Pacers and Knicks  will meet up on Wednesday  for Game 1 of the conference finals. Whichever team wins will punch their ticket to the NBA Finals. Neither team has made it that far in over two decades, but one of them will buck that trend this year.

Both teams have a lot going for them heading into the matchup. Furthermore, they are both pretty evenly matched, meaning that making adjustments and executing the gameplan will be crucial for both teams. Heading into the series, it will be worth monitoring what changes head coach Rick Carlisle makes for the Pacers, both in terms of strategy and the rotation. More specifically, it will be interesting to see if the Pacers move away from the three-ball a bit against New York, or if they will continue to let it fly.

Indiana will rely heavily on their top players  to send the knicks home, but arguably none of them will be as important as Siakam. The one-time NBA Champion continues to prove his value with the Pacers, and he is crucial to their dreams of making it back to the NBA Finals.

The Indiana Pacers have become one of the most clutch teams in the NBA, particularly in the postseason. However, the New York Knicks have an advantage in this area, and that could prove to be detrimental to the Pacers.

On Wednesday night, the Pacers and Knicks will meet up for Game 1 of  the Eastern Conference Finals. This should be an intense series as the winner will return to the NBA Finals, where neither team has been in over two decades. Additionally, each game could come down to the wire as both teams match up well with each other, and that may be a bigger advantage for the Knicks, despite Indiana's clutch performances.

According to NBA.com, the Pacers have a 169 ORTG in clutch situations  this postseason, which is the best in the league. As for the Knicks, their 114.3 ORTG in the clutch is sixth-best. Indiana is the better team in the clutch, and the stats prove that. However, the Knicks have Jalen Brunson, who is continuing to build his reputation as a bit of a late-game hero.

In the regular season, Brunson hit 16 go-ahead or game-tying shots  within the last two minutes of a game. This was the most in the NBA. Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton had 10 such shots, however, which was fourth-most in the league.

If any game in the conference finals comes down to the wire, the ball will be in the hands of Brunson or Haliburton, depending on the situation. Based on the numbers, this is a better situation for the Knicks and their top guy. Furthermore, they have an  88.2 DRTG in the clutch  this postseason, which ranks as the second-best, only behind the Minnesota Timberwolves. Even if the Pacers get the ball late in a close game, the Knicks have proven they have what it takes to put an end to any late-game heroics.

Both teams got this far for a reason, and it is because they each show up when the lights are at their brightest. The Pacers and Knicks are each fantastic teams in the clutch, which is crucial in the playoffs, when every single game counts. Each team has a lot going well for them heading into the conference finals, but only one of them can advance and get one step closer to  bringing an NBA championship home. There will be a lot of different factors that will decide who wins the series, and that could include something as simple as which team has the ball in their hands last.

Bennedict Mathurin is quietly becoming a bit of a "New York Knicks killer," and that bodes well for the Indiana Pacers ahead of their conference finals matchup.

The Pacers are back in the conference finals for the second year in a row. They made an appearance last year, but they ultimately got swept by the eventual champion Boston Celtics. This time around, they will have an opportunity to right their wrongs against the Knicks, one of their biggest rivals in franchise history. In order to do so, they will rely heavily on their top players who got them this far in the first place. However, they should also utilize Mathurin often as his track record against the Knicks is undeniable.

This series will be crucial for Mathurin's pacers career in the long run. However, fortunately for him, he has a lot going well for him, given who he is going up against.

While the Knicks will focus their attention on Pacers players like Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, and Myles Turner, they also need to keep an eye on Mathurin. In three games against New York this season, the Canadian native averaged 25.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting 61% from the field and 52.6% from beyond the arc. This includes a fantastic 38-point performance in November, when he shot 13-for-18 from the field and 7-for-9 from the three-point line.

In two of his three games against the Knicks, Mathurin came off the bench, where he has excelled for much of the season. Mathurin is a fantastic bench scorer for Indiana, and he should have a great opportunity to further prove that in the conference finals.

The Pacers will need to bring their A-game to send the Knicks home for the second year in a row and advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in over two decades. This includes Mathurin, who could play a big role in the series.

If the Arizona alum can continue his hot streak against the Knicks, the Pacers will be in a great spot. Mathurin provides a lot of value on the court, especially on the offensive side of the ball, and this has the makings of being a big series for him. Whether he will be able to rise to the occasion or not remains to be seen. Regardless, Mathurin's performances against the Knicks this season speak for themselves, and it could be an indication of what  sends them home early once again.