PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – His head coach called him the difference maker in the clinching game Thursday night as the Pacers advanced in the playoffs for the first time in a decade.
That difference-maker is Chartiers Valley High School graduate TJ McConnell.
The former Duquesne player again came off the bench and in 22 minutes scored 20 points on 7-9 field goal shooting (2-2 from three), 4-4 free throws, nine assists and four steals.
“McConnell, last game had a rough game, his bounce back was absolutely phenomenal,” said Indiana head coach Rick Carlisle. “He was the major difference maker with defensive intensity full court, knocked in two or three threes. He made some difficult hoops around the basket and the crowd was going crazy.”
“It was something else.”
“Pretty poor performance last game,” McConnell said. “Just tried to go to a different place competitively and get our crowd involved, when they are involved this is a really hard place to play.”
McConnell credited his teammates and said he just tried to do what he’s done his whole career. He described that as trying to make people as uncomfortable as possible and make plays in the defensive end.
The 32-year-old former Duquesne guard averaged 55.6% field goals in 71 games and a career-high 10.2 points per game this season. McConnell shot 41% from three while averaging 5.5 assists, 2.7 rebounds and one steal per game. He has one of the most unique triple-doubles in NBA history with double figures in points, assists and steals last year.
The crazy thing about McConnell is the more he shoots the more he makes. His shooting percentage improves with more opportunities. Here are a couple examples in the regular season.
• 18 points vs. Boston on 8-13 FG
• 20 points vs. Miami on 10-11 FG
• 20 points vs. Sacramento on 9-14 FG
• 17 points vs. Denver on 7-11 FG
• 26 points vs. San Antonio on 13-15 FG
• 22 points vs. Miami on 11-14 FG
Undrafted out of Arizona, McConnell made the roster with the 76ers as a rookie and this season with the Pacers made $8.4 million as part of a four-year, $33.6 million contract.
There were no global thoughts by McConnell after he helped Pacers fans celebrate a playoff series win for the first time in 10 years.
“Not being in the playoffs since the bubble, not being able to advance since 2014, take great pride in being able to advance and extend our season,” McConnell said.
All-Star teammate Tyrese Haliburton had a simple reason for why McConnell was the difference for Indiana on Thursday night.
“I knew he was going to respond because his wife Val was here,” Haliburton said. “I always tell him he plays better when Val is at the game. Shout out to Val.”