T.J. McConnell finished the Pacers' Wednesday night game against the Cavaliers with a whopping 10 steals... and somehow, it was a little bit disappointing.
That's only because McConnell became the all-time leader with nine steals in just the first half of action, picking opponents' pockets like Apollo Robbins. That's right — no one, not even Michael Jordan (who had eight in the first half in a 1988 game), had ever come out with nine steals in a single half of NBA action before McConnell did it against the Cavs.
But that was only the first mark that McConnell made in the league record books, and it's also the reason why it was a tad underwhelming that he finished with "only" 10 steals as a whole. But in doing so, McConnell became the 11th player in NBA history to record a 10-steal triple-double, and the only one of that bunch to have done so off the bench (via Stathead).
You'll notice another statistical reason that makes McConnell's triple-double so special as well, aside from the fact that he wasn't a starter. He also didn't miss, putting him in another exclusive group of players that have recorded a triple-double while remaining perfect from the field (via Stathead).
Evan Turner! How about that former 76er representation!
The Pacers ended up needing every ounce of effort from McConnell, seeing as they only beat the lowly Cavaliers by three points. Down two, the Cavs had a chance to tie the game or take the lead with a minute to go, and only then did McConnell record his final steal of the game and give him the triple-double.
Now, the only question is whether or not we can officially crown McConnell's triple-double as the most unlikely of the season, though Steven Adams and the duo of Mason Plumlee and Dennis Smith Jr. — both of whom also did it on Wednesday night — might have something to say about that.
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