Tyrese Haliburton hit the game-tying shot for the Pacers against the Knicks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, but that unforgettable play was made possible by the earlier heroics of Aaron Nesmith.
The Indiana guard erupted for 11 points in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter to set up one of the most miraculous shots in NBA Playoff history. Nesmith hit five threes in the fourth quarter and was 8-9 overall from beyond the arc to help the Pacers pull off the 138-135 win.
Nesmith was second on the Pacers with 30 points on Wednesday night, a contribution Indiana needed to absolutely stun New York at Madison Square Garden.
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Here’s a look at Nesmith’s stats from Game 1.
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Aaron Nesmith stats Game 1 vs. Knicks
Nesmith did basically all of his damage in Game 1 from behind the arc, with 24 of his 30 points coming by way of the three-pointer. He was on a heater in the fourth quarter, connecting on an NBA-record six three-pointers, and the Knicks couldn’t find a way to slow him down.
While Nesmith was metaphorically “in the zone” on Wednesday, his three-point prowess isn’t new. The fifth-year pro out of Vanderbilt shot 43.1% on 4.3 attempts per game from deep this year. He was nearly as good last season, canning 41.9% of his 4.6 three-point attempts per game. His eight three-point makes in Game 1 marked a career high, beating out his previous best of seven, set last season.
Here’s a look at Nesmith’s full stat line from Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
| FG | 3PT | FT | Reb | Ast | Stl | Blk | Pts |
| 9-13 | 8-9 | 4-4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 30 |
Aaron Nesmith 3-pointer highlights
Nesmith found his groove early in the game, then couldn’t miss when his team needed him most. Here’s his full highlight reel from Game 1.
WHAT A NIGHT FOR AARON NESMITH ‼️
🎯 30 PTS (20 in 4Q)
🎯 8 3PM (6 in 4Q)
🎯 2 BLKAt his best when the lights were brightest 😤 pic.twitter.com/cbX3q8Ned2
— NBA (@NBA) May 22, 2025
When Nesmith began his three-point barrage late in the game, NBA Twitter had some fun comparing him to another Pacers legend.
Aaron Nesmith rn pic.twitter.com/KOxKI5DQnw
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 22, 2025
Nesmith’s final three of the fourth quarter got the Pacers to within two, setting the stage for Haliburton’s game-tying shot.
AARON NESMITH IS UNREAL
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 22, 2025
Nesmith’s performance was even more impressive because he drew the assignment of guarding Jalen Brunson. The Knicks guard had 43 points, but the Pacers had the last laugh in Game 1.
Charles Barkley asks Aaron Nesmith how he was able to run around guarding Brunson all game but was “fresh as a daisy” to hit those 3s in the 4th quarter pic.twitter.com/5bGMrTEZK7
— Danielle Hobeika (@DanielleHobeika) May 22, 2025
Aaron Nesmith contract
According to Spotrac, Nesmith is in year one of a three-year, $33 million rookie extension contract with the Pacers. He is set to be an unrestricted free agent after the 2027-28 season. Nesmith began his NBA career in Boston and has made a total of $27,728,217.
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