Pacers' Aaron Nesmith Starts vs. Jalen Brunson, Knicks in Game 4 amid Ankle Injury

Indiana Pacers guard Aaron Nesmith started Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Knicks on Tuesday despite nursing an ankle injury.

The decision to slot Nesmith into the starting unit comes after the Pacers announced that he would be available for Tuesday's matchup despite the injury.

Nesmith suffered a right ankle sprain during Indiana's 106-100 loss to the Knicks in Game 3. When he left the contest with just over six minutes remaining in the third quarter due to the injury, the Pacers led 70-57. When he returned with seven minutes remaining, the Knicks had stormed back to take an 89-88 lead.

"Regardless of who's out there, we've got to be able to attack better and do the things to maintain it and finish the game," Carlisle told reporters after the loss. "We just simply did not execute as well as we needed to."

With Nesmith on the court in this series, the Pacers have outscored the Knicks by nine points per 100 possessions, per NBA.com. Without him, the Pacers have been outscored by 18.1 points per 100 possessions. It's clear he's been a huge catalyst for the team's success, putting up 30 points and hitting eight threes in Game 1's epic comeback (a record six in the fourth quarter alone) while also guarding Jalen Brunson throughout the series.

But his status coming into Game 4 was murky. Carlisle told reporters that Nesmith "predictably woke up sore" on Monday morning and would "likely" be a game-time decision.

Nesmith's return is a positive bit of news for the Pacers as they look to take a commanding 3-1 lead over the Knicks at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.