Pacers’ Andrew Nembhard earning praise in high-pressure moments

Nembhard had a key play late that helped the Pacers hold on and defeat the Heat on Friday.

Andrew Nembhard may have been the 31st pick in the NBA draft, but the 22-year-old is performing like a first-round pick in the early going for the Indiana Pacers.

The latest effort by Nembhard came on Friday when the Pacers (4-5) knocked off the Miami Heat, 101-99. Nembhard finished with four points but added six assists and three rebounds in 28 minutes of work off the bench, and he had a key play in the final seconds.

With the Pacers up by two points and less than five seconds remaining, Nembhard forced Tyler Herro into a tough 3-point shot that fell short as time expired. The Pacers won thanks in large part to the defensive effort by Nembhard, who was a team-high plus-13.

Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle was proud of Nembhard on that play.

He is tough. When you put a rookie on Tyler Herro in the last play of the game with a pretty good idea the ball is going to come to him and he makes that kind of a defensive stand, that is strong for a guy who was picked in the second round. We view him as a first-round pick.

Said Buddy Hield:

Hats off to Drew. He had Tyler Herro. Tyler Herro made a tough shot last game against Sacramento (to win the game), and Drew, a rookie, was put into that position. The coaches trust him and he was able to keep Tyler in front of him. It was pretty special to see him get that stop for his team.

Nembhard was one of three draft picks added to the roster this season, along with Bennedict Mathurin (sixth pick) and Kendall Brown (48th pick). Mathurin is off to an incredible start, averaging 20.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists over the first nine games.

Certainly, Mathurin has stolen the headlines thus far, but Nembhard has also performed at a high level. He is averaging 5.3 points, 3.1 assists and two rebounds in 17.1 minutes over eight appearances. Or, per 36 minutes: 11 points, 6.6 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.1 steals.

The team has counted on Nembhard in several high-pressure situations, including his defensive stand on Herro. Along with Mathurin, the two rookies have played a key role for the Pacers so far and have impressed Carlisle to this point.

I don’t think (Nembhard) is fazed at all. I don’t think he is fazed one bit by any one big moment. This guy just goes out there and plays the game. His poise is one of his impressive attributes. Mathurin is unafraid. You talk about two guys that couldn’t give an (expletive) what everybody else thinks. These guys believe they belong out there and they’re doing some good things out there.

Said Hield:

Them two come in each and every day and work. Every time I come into the gym at night time, Benn and Andrew are always there working hard. Those guys want to get better each and every day. The coaching staff sees that and are putting them in the fire and they’re learning each and every day.

The Pacers have constructed a nice, young core over the past year after opting to retool a bit. Mathurin and Nembhard have been great additions to a core that features Myles Turner, Hield, Tyrese Haliburton, Chris Duarte and Isaiah Jackson.

The team looks to be on an upward trajectory based on its early start and that has a lot to do with Nembhard and Mathurin. They have earned their playing time and appear to be poised to continue making plays when needed for their team.

It could be the start of something special in Indianapolis.

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