Aaron

Nesmith

Nesmith struggled from beyond the arc in Game 4, making just one of his six attempts. He reached double figures in two of the four games, but Nesmith’s growth as a defender has been one of the important storylines for the Pacers this season. The season-ending injury suffered by Bennedict Mathurin pushed the former Celtic into the Indiana starting lineup, and he proved to be a good fit. Nesmith finished the regular season ranked just outside the top 100 in 9-cat formats, and his value for the 2024-25 campaign will depend on where Mathurin falls within the rotation. If Rick Carlisle decides to prioritize defense in that spot, Nesmith could enter the season as a starter, boosting his fantasy value.

While the decision to shift Aaron Nesmith onto Jalen Brunson has received a lot of attention, and rightfully so, McConnell’s role has also been significant. The veteran point guard took on the task when Nesmith (8/12/1/0/1 in 24 minutes) wasn’t in the game, and he was highly impactful in both of Indiana’s wins at home. In addition to being a pest on the defensive end of the floor, McConnell recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 assists. For those interested in this series for betting purposes, McConnell is worth considering for prop bet action. Game 5 is on Monday in New York, with the teams tied at two wins each.

Nesmith is available after tweaking his shoulder during the second half of Friday’s Game 3 victory. The Pacers had some success using him as Jalen Brunson’s primary defender, so look for that to be Nesmith’s assignment on Sunday afternoon. The Pacers need a win to even the series at two games apiece.

Nesmith tweaked his shoulder during Friday’s victory but did not miss any time. Moving him onto Jalen Brunson improved things defensively for the Pacers, so look for Nesmith to take on that role once again on Sunday afternoon.

Bam Adebayo isn’t an easy matchup, but Turner answered the call for the Pacers on Sunday. He recorded his first double-double since March 22 against the Warriors, and this was Turner’s first 20-point double-double since January 19 in Portland. He was one of seven Pacers to finish in double figures, and Indiana moved into sixth in the East with the victory. Fellow frontcourt starters Pascal Siakam (18/8/1 with one 3-pointer) and Aaron Nesmith (16/5/3/0/2 with one 3-pointer) also hit double digits for the Pacers, who will play three games in Week 24.

Nesmith missed their last game with a bruised right knee, but he will take back over in his usual starting spot for this game. That sends Ben Sheppard back to the bench, which eliminates the majority of his upside in fantasy.

Nesmith and McConnell have officially been upgraded after it was initially reported they were expected to play. The former did not play in Monday’s win over the Clippers, with rookie Ben Sheppard replacing him in the starting lineup. Sheppard will come off the bench, which lowers his fantasy ceiling. As for McConnell, he will continue to serve as the backup point guard and has reliable fantasy value in deep leagues.

Carlisle did add that they’re both “a little game-timey”, so neither will be officially cleared until closer to tipoff. However, Nesmith’s expected return should push Ben Sheppard back to the bench. McConnell will continue to fill the role as the team’s backup guard, where he has been a solid source of assists and steals.

Nesmith was held out of Monday’s win over the Clippers, with rookie Ben Sheppard replacing him in the starting lineup. That said, Jarace Walker provided higher value despite coming off the bench. Should Nesmith remain out on Wednesday, deep league managers should consider streaming Walker.

Nesmith was initially questionable for Monday’s game, the second in as many nights for the Pacers. Obi Toppin, Ben Sheppard, and Doug McDermott are all available to absorb some of the minutes that would have gone to Nesmith. Of the three, Toppin offers the highest potential regarding fantasy production.