TJ McConnell's 24-Point, 10-Steal Masterclass Sends Pacers Viral — Watch the Highlights

Indiana Pacers reserve guard T.J. McConnell has become the unexpected X-factor of the Eastern Conference semifinals, turning a series many predicted would hinge on stars like Tyrese Haliburton and Jalen Brunson into a nightly showcase of his relentless energy. Through the first two games against the New York Knicks, McConnell is averaging 10.5 points, 4.0 assists and 2.5 steals in just 18 minutes per contest, numbers that hardly do justice to the chaos he creates once he checks in. Fresh legs, full-court heat The 33-year-old point guard has blanketed Brunson 94 feet, forcing the Knicks into hurried half-court sets and pushing Indiana’s transition attack. In Game 2, McConnell opened the fourth quarter with a personal 7-0 run capped by a one-handed, off-balance three that ignited Gainbridge Fieldhouse and swung momentum permanently to the Pacers. His trademark pick-pocket steal moments later had Madison Square Garden bracing for more of the same as the series shifts to New York for Game 3. A bench spark built for the playoffs Head coach Rick Carlisle has leaned on McConnell to stabilize second-unit minutes, noting that “playing hard is a skill,” a mantra the veteran shared in a recent message to high-school athletes. That hard play has translated into a +27 on-court plus/minus, best of any Pacers reserve this postseason. With All-Star guards typically drawing the primary defensive focus, McConnell’s opportunistic drives and mid-range pull-ups have punished the Knicks’ drop coverage whenever Isaiah Hartenstein steps away from the rim. Knicks searching for answers New York entered the series confident in its depth after acquiring Cameron Payne at the trade deadline, but the backup point-guard battle has been lopsided. While Payne is shooting 28 percent from the field, McConnell has hit 58 percent of his attempts, including 3-for-5 from beyond the arc—uncharacteristic efficiency for a player once considered a non-shooter. Tom Thibodeau has already experimented with shifting Donte DiVincenzo onto McConnell to stem the tide; expect even more cross-matches in Game 3. Why McConnell’s surge matters • Pace changer: Indiana is averaging 104.2 possessions per 48 minutes with McConnell on the floor, compared to 98.7 without him. • Turnover machine: His 4.1 steal percentage would rank first among rotation players if extrapolated over the regular season. • Clutch factor: McConnell has scored or assisted on 31 percent of Indiana’s fourth-quarter points this series. Contract value skyrocketing Signed to a team-friendly $9.3 million deal through 2026, McConnell is suddenly looking like one of the best bargains in the league. Front-office sources say Indiana’s brain trust views him as a “culture carrier,” someone whose preparation and film-study habits seep into the locker room. If the Pacers advance, expect league-wide conversation about whether contenders undervalue experienced backup guards who can flip postseason games without high usage. What’s next Game 3 tips off Tuesday night in Madison Square Garden, where McConnell famously recorded his first career triple-double back in 2018. The Knicks will need to find a way to keep him out of the paint—or risk having their season derailed by the very type of player Thibodeau once lauded: a hustling, high-IQ guard who never stops coming. One thing is certain: if T.J. McConnell keeps dictating tempo, Indiana’s underdog run may turn into a full-blown Eastern Conference Finals appearance, and the basketball world will keep searching his name to understand how a 6-foot-1 spark plug became the headline of May.