INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Aaron Nesmith, the Indiana Pacers top defender, left Game 3 against the New York Knicks midway through the third quarter Sunday before returning for part of the fourth.
Whether he'll play Tuesday night in Game 4 is unclear.
Coach Rick Carlisle said he inserted Nesmith because he was cleared to play. But his return didn't prevent the Pacers from frittering away a fourth-quarter lead in a 106-100 loss. Nesmith didn't look the same after the injury, and Carlisle said he would withhold judgment about Game 4 until he receives more information Monday.
Nesmith landed awkwardly when he jumped to throw a pass into the corner that sailed high and wound up in the seats.
After play stopped, Nesmith remained down briefly before his teammates helped him up and then motioned for the trainers help. He struggled to put weight on the leg, needed assistance to leave the court and went straight to the locker room.
He was Indiana's primary defender on All-Star guard Jalen Brunson as the Pacers pulled out to a 70-57 lead.
The Pacers still hold a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.
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Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) celebrates after scoring against the New York Knicks during the second half of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith walks toward the team bench during the second half of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA basketball playoffs against the New York Knicks Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
PARIS (AP) — A Paris court is to rule on Monday in a case involving 10 people accused of cyberbullying French first lady Brigitte Macron by spreading false online claims about her gender and sexuality, allegations her daughter said damaged her health and family life.
The defendants, eight men and two women aged 41 to 60, are accused of posting “numerous malicious comments” falsely claiming that President Emmanuel Macron ’s wife was born a man and linking the 24-year age gap with her husband to pedophilia. Some of the posts were viewed tens of thousands of times.
Brigitte Macron did not attend the two-day trial in October.
Her daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, testified about what she described as the “deterioration” of her mother’s life since the online harassment intensified. “She cannot ignore the horrible things said about her,” Auzière told the court. She said the impact has extended to the entire family, including Macron’s grandchildren.
Defendant Delphine Jegousse, 51, who is known as Amandine Roy and describes herself as a medium and an author, is considered as having played a major role in spreading the rumor after she released a four-hour video on her YouTube channel in 2021.
The X account of Aurélien Poirson-Atlan, 41, known as Zoé Sagan on social media, was suspended in 2024 after his name was cited in several judicial investigations.
Other defendants include an elected official, a teacher and a computer scientist. Several told the court their comments were intended as humor or satire and said they did not understand why they were being prosecuted. They face up to two years in prison if convicted.
The case follows years of conspiracy theories falsely alleging that Brigitte Macron was born under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux, which is actually the name of her brother. The Macrons have also filed a defamation suit in the United States against conservative influencer Candace Owens.
The Macrons, who have been married since 2007, first met at the high school where he was a student and she was a teacher. Brigitte Macron, 24 years her husband’s senior, was then called Brigitte Auzière, a married mother of three.
Emmanuel Macron, 48, has been France’s president since 2017.
FILE - French President's wife Brigitte Macron arrives ahead of the ceremony outside "La Belle Equipe" bar, Thursday Nov. 13, 2025 in Paris as part of ceremonies marking the 10th anniversary of terrorist attacks. (Ludovic Marin, Pool photo via AP, File)