Pacers' Andrew Nembhard: Nets three-year extension
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Nembhard agreed Wednesday with the Pacers on a three-year, $59 million contract extension, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.
After the Pacers selected him with the first pick in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft, Nembhard signed a three-year, $6.4 million contract that included a $2.19 million team option for 2025-26. According to Wojnarowski, the Pacers will decline that team option as part of the extension, which will go into effect beginning in 2025-26 and keeps him on the books through his age-27 campaign in 2027-28. Nembhard was solid enough in a supporting role during the 2023-24 regular season with averages of 9.2 points, 4.1 assists, 2.1 rebounds and 0.9 three-pointers in 25.0 minutes while shooting 49.8 percent from the field over 68 appearances (47 starts), but it was his performance in the playoffs that likely has the Pacers even more excited about his prospects moving forward. He averaged 14.9 points, 5.5 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 32.6 minutes over his 17 playoff contests and became the fourth player in NBA history to shoot at least 55 percent from the floor and at least 45 percent from three-point range in a single postseason, per ESPN Stats & Information. The new deal locks him in as Tyrese Haliburton's running mate in the backcourt for at least the next four years.
Nembhard totaled 24 points (10-18 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 1-1 FT), six rebounds, 10 assists, one block and one steal over 39 minutes during Monday's 105-102 loss to the Celtics in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Even though the Pacers were swept by the Celtics, one positive outcome of this series was Nembhard's excellent play, which proved he's more than ready to handle a more prominent role in the offensive scheme. Nembhard ended his postseason run by scoring in double digits in seven appearances in a row, reaching the 20-point mark in three of the last five.
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Pacers' Andrew Nembhard: Scores career-high 32 points
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Nembhard racked up 32 points (12-21 FG, 4-7 3Pt, 4-4 FT), four rebounds and nine assists across 39 minutes during Saturday's 114-111 loss to Boston in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Nembhard had to step up his game with Tyrese Haliburton (hamstring) sidelined, and the second-year guard delivered the best performance of his career on the biggest stage. However, Nembhard lost the ball in a critical sequence against Jrue Holiday when the Pacers had to go for a comeback in the final seconds, but aside from that, he was excellent. Nemnhard is averaging 20.0 points, 7.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game in the Eastern Conference Finals so far.
Pacers' Andrew Nembhard: Scores 16 points in Game 2 loss
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Nembhard contributed 16 points (6-12 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 3-4 FT), two rebounds, five assists and one steal over 26 minutes during Thursday's 126-110 loss to the Celtics in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Nembhard extended his run of playoff performances with double-digit points to five, and he's also dished out at least five assists three times during that span. Nembhard might be in line for a more prominent role in the playmaking department if Tyrese Haliburton (leg) doesn't play in Game 3 on Saturday.
Pacers' Andrew Nembhard: Boosts offense in balanced Game 7
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Nembhard ended with 20 points (8-10 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 3-4 FT), six assists, five rebounds and one steal over 34 minutes in Sunday's 130-109 win over New York in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Nembhard provided Indiana with a boost offensively both scoring and distributing, ending as one of three players with 20 or more points while handing out a half-dozen assists and adding a handful of rebounds in a balanced Game 7 outing. Nembhard put forth his best game of the postseason to help the Pacers advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, surpassing the 20-point mark for the second time of the playoffs and for the first time in the series against New York.
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Pacers' Andrew Nembhard: Improved performance Friday
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Nembhard finished with 15 points (6-12 FG, 3-4 3Pt), six rebounds, six assists and one block over 38 minutes during Friday's 116-103 win over New York in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Nembhard put together arguably his best performance of the postseason, especially when it comes to his efforts on the defensive end. Having been worked over by Jalen Brunson in the past couple of games, Nembhard appeared as though he was focused on making amends for his recent shortcomings. Although Brunson ended with a game-high 31 points, many of those came with the game already in the bag for Indiana. If the Pacers are to walk out of Madison Square Garden with a victory Sunday, Nembhard may need to again be more than a traffic cone on defense.
