The Indiana Pacers learned for certain that they would be without their star point guard in Tyrese Haliburton early in the day on Saturday. Rick Carlisle then had a decision to make about how to structure the starting lineup.
He could simply replace the starting point guard with the backup in T.J. McConnell or insert another player into the lineup and move Andrew Nembhard into the lead guard role with the starters. Carlisle went with the latter and while rookie Ben Sheppard remained unable to find his jumper in these conference finals as he started the game, Nembhard was the star of show as he worked his clever game with drives to the rim, got to his spots near the foul line, and nailed nearly every shot he took in the first half of Game 3 as entered halftime with 21 points (8 of 10) and 5 assists—and barely cooled off over the next remaining six quarters of the series averaging 28 points, 9 assists, and 5 rebounds on 53% shooting in two games as the starting point guard in the conference finals.
“I just wanted to get the pace going,” Nembhard said of running the offense in place of Haliburton. “I think we play best when everybody’s touching it, we’re all moving, and we’re playing our Pacers hoops. I just wanted to not necessarily force the issue, but just let it come to me.”
He capped off the first half with a deep 3-pointer reminiscent of his game winner in the previous round as he made the in-bounds pass and then came to the ball and went into his shot from the G in Gainbridge. He was oozing confidence while going up against perhaps the two best guard defenders in the league in Jrue Holiday and Derrick White while running an offense in the Eastern Conference Finals. That’s a meaningful development for a second-year player.
“I’m proud of his growth. It’s a tough game when our starting point guard is not in the game and you learn that before the game,” Pascal Siakam said of Nembhard. “It takes a lot of just maturity and growth to be able to step in there and play the way that he did tonight. He was incredible, controlling the pace of the game, getting people to their spots. That’s something that he’s always been able to do. And I think every time he has an opportunity, he’s shown it. Tonight was another night where he showed that he belongs and he’s a big part of our team.”
“Some of those guys were turning into [expletive] Michael Jordan,” Jaylen Brown said after the game.
Nembhard, like much of the Pacers, wouldn’t remain as hot in the second half but he was still effective and filling in admirably for Haliburton, making some big shots in an attempt to hold off a surging Boston run in the fourth including a free-throw line pull-up, a made corner 3-pointer, and assisting T.J. McConnell for a corner triple from the same spot on a drive-and-kick. While the team entire shot just 5 for 22 from deep, Nembhard made 4 of 7 and assisted on the team’s only other make. He finished with 32 points (12 of 21) and 9 assists in Game 3.
And yet because of how the game ended with Nembhard missing a mid-range jumper after the Celtics initially took the lead late in the game and then losing the ball on a Jrue Holiday steal with six seconds remaining, Nembhard went from having the game of his life to being despondent at the podium. The agony of sports that can quickly bring you from an ultimate high to a despairing low after losing an 8-point lead with 2:38 left in the game.
Despite the ending, you have to be more than encouraged by the second-year guard’s performance and what that could mean for his future as a dynamic backcourt mate with Haliburton after Nembhard’s been essential to the Pacers success all post-season and went supernova in this game. His teammates certainly took note of the impressive performance.
“I think Andrew Nembhard took his game to another level tonight … the confidence he plays with is incredible,” McConnell said. “You see him bringing the ball up the floor, he’s getting people involved, if he’s open he’s shooting it and making it at a high level.”
It was reminiscent of another Carlisle point guard, second-round pick that played four years in college and had a playoff breakout moment while stepping into heavy creation duties with a star point guard out. Jalen Brunson once had a 40-point effort with the Mavs with Luka Doncic out, serving as a foreshadowing of his ascension to stardom with the Knicks now.
McConnell was especially impressed with how well Nembhard has been able to perform no matter what role they’ve put him in all season and how confident he’s remained no matter the situation.
“I mean in the playoffs and the regular season, he’s coming off the bench, he’s starting at 2, he’s starting at one, he’s the backup point guard, as a kid at his age getting thrown around like that can maybe mess with your mental,” McConnell said. “He’s just answered the bell all year and his whole career. There’s no bigger fan of his game than me … and we would not be in this position without him.”
In Game 4 with another chance for the Pacers young guard to be the starting point guard and the Celtics with a chance to adjust their coverages, Nembhard was the team’s best player again while scoring 24 points (10 of 18), 10 assists, and 6 rebounds. Yet again, he was getting to his spots, moving the ball, and hitting self-created buckets. While clutch time was heartbreaking as the Pacers were unable to finish yet another 4th quarter in which they had the lead, Nembhard looked like a star again, even getting a “future star” designation from Mike Breen on the broadcast.
More content:
Be sure to check on my appearances on Locked on Pacers following Game 3 and on Setting the Pace to preview Game 4 if you’re in need of a podcast this Memorial Day.
iPacers 
[…] have more written coverage on Nembhard and others before Game 4. Update: Now available here. You can also watch/listen to a preview for Game 4 with me on Setting the Pace with Alex Golden […]
LikeLike
[…] Nembhard emerged as a star in his own right as a lead guard against the best two guard defenders in the league as Haliburton missed the final two games. Aaron […]
LikeLike