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Former Sixers guard TJ McConnell headed to Finals as Pacers beat Knicks

Former Sixers guard TJ McConnell headed to Finals as Pacers beat Knicks

USA Today01-06-2025

Former Sixers guard TJ McConnell headed to Finals as Pacers beat Knicks
Former Philadelphia 76ers guard TJ McConnell has had to earn every opportunity he's gotten in the NBA. He went undrafted out of Arizona and received a chance with the Sixers in the 2015-16 season and spent four seasons with Philadelphia as a champion of The Process era.
After his successful run with the Sixers, he signed with the Indiana Pacers in the 2019 offseason and has been a reliable piece of the rotation. He has made a difference in plenty of games for the Pacers and on Saturday helped Indiana finish off the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals 125-108 in Game 6.
McConnell played 13 minutes off the bench and had three points, four rebounds, and two assists, and made scrappy plays all night. It was a performance that he has become known for in his career and he was a thorn in the side of the Knicks all series long.
McConnell and the Pacers will face off against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals starting on Thursday from the Paycom Center. The Thunder, led by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, also feature another former Sixers guard in the form of 2020 second-round pick, Isaiah Joe.

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