Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith battled through a sprained ankle during the final three games of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Looking ahead to the NBA Finals clash against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Nesmith has declared himself ready to compete. He credits the five-day break between series for aiding his ankle`s recovery process.
The injury occurred during Game 3 of the conference finals. Despite being hampered, Nesmith still managed to make valuable contributions, scoring 16 points in Game 4 and 10 points in Game 6, both of which were crucial victories for the Pacers.
Following the series-clinching win in Game 6, Nesmith expressed gratitude for the opportunity to rest and heal.
“I needed `em,” Nesmith told reporters. “I was looking forward to these days off. I took `em, and I`ll be ready.”
Nesmith described the significant challenge of preparing for Game 4 immediately after sustaining the injury.
He detailed the extensive range of treatments he underwent to ensure he could play through the pain:
“It took a lot. It was pretty much rehab every minute of that day. It was cold tub, game-ready, hyperbaric chambers, it was red light therapy. It was manual wave, it was shock wave. Anything you could name we kinda threw it at the ankle, but there was no chance I was missing that game.”
The Pacers will rely heavily on Nesmith being close to full health to effectively challenge the Thunder in the Finals. His impact from beyond the arc is particularly vital, highlighted by his impressive 50% shooting percentage on three-pointers throughout this postseason.
Earlier in the Eastern Conference Final, specifically in Game 1, Nesmith was a key factor in a remarkable comeback victory, erupting for 30 points and helping the Pacers establish momentum in the series.
Jasper Hawthorne