T.J. McConnell guides Indiana Pacers with season best performance in win over Orlando Magic

INDIANAPOLIS — T.J. McConnell is the right veteran for the younger and rising Indiana Pacers. He’s a key piece for the 10-6 group because of his management off the court docket, he elevates the group along with his presence.

Monday night time, although, the reserve level guard gave the group an enormous increase on the court docket. McConnell completed with 19 factors, ten assists, 5 rebounds, and three steals in a win over the Orlando Magic, and the Pacers received his minutes by 22 factors, a group greatest. It was one in all his greatest video games with the franchise. He steered the ship all night time.

“I cherished his recreation, man,” Pacers middle Isaiah Jackson stated after the sport. “Tonight, he confirmed what he is been engaged on.”

McConnell did many issues that he’s usually able to all through the sport, however he did them completely and with a heightened frequency. He drove towards the basket to point out off his artful ending and shot 4/4 within the lane. He threw correct and defense-altering passes, which led to his ten assists. Eight of these dimes led to pictures across the basket whereas the opposite two created open three-point pictures. McConnell’s passing, particularly when it got here after a drive, was elegant.

His protection was efficient, because it has been usually this yr. And he elevated the transition recreation effectively all night time. These are the issues McConnell usually does, however he was doing them at a heightened stage on Monday night time.

What made the sport particularly noteworthy for the eight-year professional was the atypical issues he pulled off. Probably the most eyebrow-raising addition to McConnell’s efficiency was the three ball — he canned a career-high three of them within the win. His exterior shot was working so effectively that he really hit a defender with a shot faux, which acquired him within the air, in an effort to open up a passing lane to Myles Turner.

McConnell additionally hit a left handed floater over the outstretched arms of Bol Bol, which required a magnificently arched shot. McConnell checked out his left hand in awe as he trotted again down the court docket to play protection.

“Not many individuals rating over Bol Bol, he is a tall dude. The lefty was loopy,” ahead Oshae Brissett stated of the bucket.

Every little thing McConnell did was working, and it made Indiana’s complete second unit higher. Each bench participant who was within the rotation completed with 10+ factors. When it was all stated and achieved, the veteran guard led the group in minutes — the teaching workers could not take him off the court docket.

It was simply the seventh time in McConnell’s profession that he reached 19 factors in a recreation. Amongst these seven video games, the veteran guard solely dished out 10+ assists in one in all them previous to Monday. It was the most effective offensive video games of the previous 76er’s profession.

“His competitiveness is contagious to everybody that is on the market,” head coach Rick Carlisle stated of McConnell after the sport. “Tonight, his vitality, his pain-in-the-ass-ness, we would have liked it.”

McConnell solely averages 4.7 factors and 4.1 assists per recreation, however stats promote him quick. He is a key locker room piece for the blue and gold, and his expertise on the court docket make life simpler for everybody. The veteran guard has proven off the previous usually this season, however Monday was far and away his greatest recreation of the yr when it comes to scoring and making life higher for his teammates.

• Oshae Brissett places collectively his greatest recreation of the season to assist the Indiana Pacers beat the Toronto Raptors: ‘He is doing it at a excessive stage’. CLICK HERE.
• Aaron Nesmith exhibits off his progress with profession night time vs Orlando Magic. CLICK HERE.
• Youthful Indiana Pacers gamers are benefitting from T.J. McConnell’s management. CLICK HERE.
• Report: Los Angeles Clippers occupied with Indiana Pacers middle Myles Turner. CLICK HERE.
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