INDIANAPOLIS – Earlier in the second quarter of Game 3 of the NBA Finals, the Indiana Pacers’ home cloud was a little calmer.
After leading almost the entire first quarter, the Oklahoma City Thunder began their second quarter with an eight-point advantage. This is a modest continuation from Game 2, when the Thunder led in the final 38 minutes of play.
Despite being his first final game in Indiana in 25 years, the arena energy was declining.
But then TJ McConnell went to work.
In the first three minutes and 52 seconds of the second, Indiana made a 15-4 run and took the first lead of the final from the first quarter of Game 2.
Meanwhile, McConnell recorded four assists, three steels, two points and one offensive rebound.
“He’s a guy who inspires a lot of people,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said after the game. “He gives a lot of inspiration for our team.”
“His energy is incredible,” said guard Tyreese Halliburton. “You know he’s definitely a crowd favorite. I’m joking with him. I call him ‘Great White Hope’. He does an incredible job of bringing energy to this building. ”
“He’s very dynamic in terms of running on the floor for us,” added Forward Pascal Siakam. “And just adding those steels and bringing the crowd into the game like he was, and he was special tonight.”
McConnell’s energy boost and clutch played a key role in Indiana’s 116-107 victory. This gave the team a 2-1 lead in a series that the Pacers don’t expect to win. McConnell finished the game with 10 points, five assists and five steals, the first player in NBA history to post these numbers from the bench in the final game. He was also a plus 12 in just 15 minutes.
Three of McConnell’s five steels came through what would become his signature play. It is hiding in the backcourt and taking advantage of unsuspecting and/or lazy inbound passes due to turnovers. Two of these steels led to Indiana points that included a bucket that tied the game in the fourth quarter, and they all elicited a huge response from the crowd.
Listed on 6’1″ McConnell is the shortest player on either team in the finals. However, despite barely taking up space on the court and playing the bench that appears to be the second-most visible member of the team, his impact was huge.
“In a series like this, the margins are the most important thing,” Halliburton said. “You have to win by margin. It’s not necessarily who can make the most shots. It’s taking care of the ball, rebounding, doing such little things… (McConnell) consistently got there and did an amazing job of hustle play after hustle play.
In particular, the entire Indiana bench seemed to feed McConnell.
Pacers’ backup made a huge difference to Game 3, surpassing Thunder Relives 49-18. Pacers guard Benedict Maturin was the main scorer in the game, scoring 27 points in just 22 minutes.
McConnell, a 10-year veteran in his sixth season against Indiana, has always been the type of player who makes the most of his opportunities. He has not started more than eight games in a season since 2017, and has not averaged more than 26.3 minutes per night in his career.
But on Wednesday he changed courses of the game, and perhaps even a series.
“He’s been like my older brother since I came here,” Halliburton said. “TJ McConnell and his story are incredible, so I enjoy playing with him. The energy he gives to his teammates in this building is a lot of fun.”
