Aaron Nesmith Cleared to Play Sunday After Hamstring Scare

Aaron Nesmith is officially listed as available to play Sunday after nursing a left hamstring strain, which is a minor miracle considering his recent medical file reads like a medieval battle casualty list. Underdog NBA confirmed the Pacers forward is good to go, meaning Indiana gets a crucial piece of its rotation back on the floor.

Getting the wing back is a massive relief for a Pacers team that relies heavily on his perimeter defense and hustle. When you are rolling out a high-octane offense anchored by Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam, you desperately need a guy willing to do the dirty work on the other end.

To say Nesmith has had a rough go with injuries lately is an understatement. He missed 35 games with a left ankle sprain in the 2024-25 season and another 19 games with a knee injury last year. For context, if you added up all his missed games over the last few seasons, you would have enough free time to learn a second language or finally figure out how the NBA's collective bargaining agreement works.

For the fantasy managers and prop bettors out there, his return completely shifts the board. Nesmith usually slots right back into the starting five alongside Andrew Nembhard, but you have to wonder if the coaching staff will keep him on a strict minutes limit after a soft-tissue injury.

The Pacers are at their best when they have versatile wings who can switch on defense and hit open corner threes. Nesmith provides exactly that, assuming his hamstring does not immediately decide to clock out early.

Keep an eye on his early movement in Sunday's matchup. If he looks explosive, Indiana's rotation suddenly gets a lot more dangerous, and the live betting lines on Pacers defensive props might actually hold some real value.