Latest news with #McConnell
Indianapolis Star
17 minutes ago
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
Indiana Pacers do something that's never been done in NBA playoffs
You can argue all you want if the Indiana Pacers have a superstar, but their superpower is their depth. In Thursday's Game 6 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Pacers had six players score in double figures, and that's been a constant this season — and postseason. In fact, the Pacers are the first team in NBA history with eight players to score at least 200 points in a single playoffs: In six NBA Finals games so far, the Pacers have had four players lead the team in scoring (Siakam in Games 1, 4 and 5, Haliburton in Game 2, Mathurin in Game 3 and Toppin in Game 6). "You've got a group of guys who all have all had a somewhat similar path of being overlooked," Turner said after Game 6. "You have guys like Aaron Nesmith and Pascal getting traded and Tyrese getting traded and Nembhard is a second-round pick. "I think we all carry a little bit of that weight with us. When you put a bunch of guys like that together, that starts to add up." All the right moves: How Pacers were built into an unlikely title contender Here are some more stats: ∎ McConnell had 12 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four steals, becoming the first bench player to hit those numbers in an NBA Finals game since starters and bench players were first tracked in the 1970-71 season. ∎ McConnell is the first bench player in NBA history with 60+ points, 25+ assists and 15+ rebounds in an NBA Finals, per StatMuse. ∎ Per Statmuse, Obi Toppin is just the second bench player in NBA Finals history with 70+ points, 30+ rebounds and 12+ 3s made. The other? Big Shot Bob, Robert Horry.
Newsweek
31 minutes ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Pacers' TJ McConnell Makes Massive NBA Finals History
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Indiana Pacers received yet another impressive performance off of the bench from backup point guard T.J. McConnell on Thursday night in their dominant 108-91 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. With their season on the line, the Pacers made it clear that they're not quite ready for the season to end. The win has set up a winner-take-all Game 7 in Oklahoma City on Sunday night. In the win, McConnell was once again the energizer bunny for Indiana. He came off the bench to play 24 minutes, scoring 12 points on 6-for-12 shooting to go along with nine rebounds, six assists, and four steals. T.J. McConnell #9 of the Indiana Pacers handles the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter in Game Six of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 19, 2025 in... T.J. McConnell #9 of the Indiana Pacers handles the ball against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter in Game Six of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. More Photo byMcConnell was once again a part of a bench explosion in the scoring column for the Pacers. As a whole, the Indiana bench scored 48 points. Read more: Spurs' Potential Kevin Durant Trade Pursuit Receives Major Update Obi Toppin led the team in scoring. He came off the bench to score 20 points on 6-for-12 shooting and knocked down four of his seven three-point attempts. Behind Toppin, the Pacers saw Andrew Nembhard score 17 points, Pascal Siakam chip in with 16 points and 13 rebounds, Tyrese Haliburton score 14 points despite dealing with a calf strain, McConnell score 12, and Aaron Nesmith put up 10. On Friday morning, Indiana took to social media to share that McConnell has now made massive NBA Finals history. According to the Pacers' post on X, McConnell is the first bench player in NBA history to have 60 or more points, 25 or more assists, and 15 or more rebounds in the NBA Finals. the first bench player in @nba history to have 60+ points, 25+ assists and 15+ rebounds in the NBA Finals: T.J. McConnell 😤 — Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) June 20, 2025 Needless to say, the 33-year-old point guard is one of the main reasons the Pacers are still alive. Their season comes to one game on Sunday. If they win, they are NBA champions, but if they lose, their magical season comes to a heartbreaking end. Read more: Mavericks Projected to Pair Star Free Agent With Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis So far in six games in the NBA Finals, McConnell has averaged 11.3 points, 4.5 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game in the second unit. He has shot 53.7 percent from the floor and has knocked down three of his five attempts from the three-point arc. If Indiana wants to pull off the shocking upset win in Game 7, McConnell will need to be a big part of it. Fans can be sure that he'll bring a lot of energy to the court on Sunday evening. That being said, Game 7 is scheduled to tip off at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday. The Pacers and Thunder will both be looking to close out a championship in the final game of the 2024-25 NBA season. For more on the Indiana Pacers and general NBA news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
New York Times
3 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
T.J. McConnell brings the energy for the Pacers, who need him more than ever
INDIANAPOLIS — When T.J. McConnell checked in for the first time, as the Gainbridge Fieldhouse crowd bellowed upon hearing his name, he bent over and put both hands on the hardwood. It's a ritual replete with symbolism. The NBA's poster child of scrappiness starts by putting his hands to the proverbial plow, his fingers in the dirt. Becoming one with the hardwood onto which he's about to pour himself. With 5:50 left in the first quarter, and the Indiana Pacers up by two over the Oklahoma City Thunder, it was time for McConnell to work. He clocked in with his hands. Advertisement Thursday's Game 6 of the NBA Finals would require a certain energy. With the hosts facing elimination, desperation was in order. Urgency in every movement. All gas and no brakes for the opponent. This moment was made for McConnell. 'He's had to fight and claw and scrap for everything he's gotten in this league,' said Myles Turner, who has played five seasons with McConnell. 'For someone who was undrafted, for someone who was constantly (over)looked. … I know how bad he wants this.' McConnell finished with 12 points, nine rebounds, six assists and four steals in 24 minutes of Indiana's 108-91 Game 6 romp of OKC. But the numbers don't do him justice. They don't convey his energy. They don't illustrate his influence on the tempo, the aggressiveness, the possibility of his team. He is the only player in NBA Finals history to surpass 60 points, 25 assists, 15 rebounds and 10 steals off the bench. It's uncanny how he gets where he wants on the court, squeezing between crevices on his drives, weaving in and out of the lane, the defense chasing him like the ghosts chase Pac-Man. It's befuddling how that pull-up jump shot of his, his form looking like he's putting something in a box on the shelf, can feel so automatic even though he's fading away and shooting over much bigger players. How he emerges from the trees with rebounds and seems to always have a jump on loose balls. It's every bit a phenomenon. A backup guard leading with intangibles. Indeed, McConnell invites every cliché possible. He for sure fits the mold of the overachieving, unathletic white player. He is but 6-foot-1, 190 pounds. He is heady. He is humble. He does play the right way. For the love of Hoosiers. But don't patronize McConnell by limiting him to such tropes. He's worthy of any game, any style, any era. The guy can play. Full stop. He's a true hooper. A gamer in every sense. He's respected in every corner of the sport. Because hustle doesn't have a demographic. Unwavering confidence is a universal basketball language. And the desire to win, a hunger so strong it's palpable, garners respect everywhere. Advertisement He is undersized, yet his impact is huge. He isn't explosive by any means, but he's gone off when the Pacers needed it most. He doesn't have 'a bag,' as the modern hoop litmus test prefers, but he's still carried Indiana at critical junctures. The Pacers are, almost magically, a win from the franchise's first championship since its ABA days. It doesn't happen without McConnell, whose game seems to elevate with the stakes. 'It's no surprise what T.J. does out there,' Obi Toppin, one of McConnell's running mates off the bench, said after scoring 20 points. McConnell assisted on all four of Toppin's 3s. 'Any time he comes into the game, the crowd loves him, and he feeds off of that. He had a great start to the game, and it got us going. Brought juice into the game, energy into the game.' Tyrese Haliburton, the face of the franchise, the Pacers' star point guard, valiantly battled through a strained calf, risking further injury to offer a fraction of himself as a sacrifice. He grinded on defense. He made some shots. He dropped some dimes. Indiana couldn't afford to get nothing from its star again, not with its season on the brink, and he delivered. But the Pacers didn't need the full measure of Haliburton because of whom he calls their 'Great White Hope.' In Game 5, when Haliburton strained his calf and was rendered ineffective, McConnell provided the spark. He scored 18 points in 21 minutes. The Pacers might've cost themselves Game 5 by sitting McConnell too long. But they are still alive, their title hopes boosted by their convincing Game 6 win as they head to a Game 7 in Oklahoma City on Sunday. And McConnell's fingerprints were all over the floor. 'Well,' McConnell explained, 'we were going home if we didn't come out and give everything we have and leave it all out on the floor. We have another opportunity to do that on Sunday.' Advertisement Not even a minute into his first stint, he intercepted an outlet pass and found Toppin for a 3-pointer. On a loose ball in the second quarter, Thunder center Isaiah Hartenstein dove to the floor to secure it. Pacers big man Tony Bradley was right next to Hartenstein and didn't hit the floor. But McConnell hustled over and lunged for the ball, on the hardwood, snatching it before Hartenstein could and starting the transition. Indiana led 28-25 to start the second quarter. McConnell went to work. A driving layup. Then his patented fade-away in the lane. Another bucket in the lane moments later. The Thunder just didn't know what to do with him. 'To play to the last day possible of the season, Game 7,' McConnell said, 'you dream about that as a kid. So I know we have to be ready for the challenge.' Game 7s can be ugly. Battles of attrition after a long, grueling season. A test of stamina. A measurement of heart. But that's even more in the realm of McConnell. The gear required for this expected setting is the only gear he knows. He's already beloved in basketball-crazed Indiana. He's become a popular figure among basketball enthusiasts. He's highly regarded among his peers. But if Indiana wins, and McConnell once again imposes himself onto the game with the strength of his will, he'll become an iconic underdog. The king of overachievers. And the swelling warmth in his father's heart. 'I'm going to OKC for my son,' McConnell's father, Tim, said on the ESPN set. 'To play in the championship game. To win the world championship.' (Photo of T.J. McConnell and Aaron Wiggins: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images)
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Federal judge says Trump can't tie state funding to immigration enforcement
A US judge on Thursday stopped the Trump administration from forcing 20 Democratic-led states to help with immigration enforcement in order to receive federal transportation grants. Chief US District Judge John McConnell in Rhode Island ruled that the US Department of Transportation cannot require states to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) to get billions in funding. The judge said this condition violated the US Constitution. 'Congress did not authorize or give authority to the Secretary of Transportation to impose immigration enforcement conditions on federal dollars meant for transportation,' McConnell wrote in his ruling. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Join new Free to Play WWII MMO War Thunder War Thunder Play Now Undo The judge added that the administration failed to show any logical link between cooperating with ICE and the purpose of the transportation grants, which are meant for highways, bridges, and other public works. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) The 20 states, along with local governments, had sued after Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned them they could lose funding if they did not help enforce federal immigration law. Duffy's April 24 notice told states they must support ICE or risk losing money for road and bridge projects. Live Events RECOMMENDED STORIES FOR YOU 'Any illegal immigrants?' Trump asks White House workers about deportation status Trump shifts immigration enforcement to US cities after farm sector backlash America's immigration mess shows it failing as a nation of laws McConnell's ruling blocks the policy while the lawsuit continues. The Trump administration had defended its policy as part of its broad crackdown on sanctuary cities and states that refuse to help with immigration arrests. Since returning to office in January, Trump has signed several executive orders calling for cuts to funding for jurisdictions that do not assist ICE. California Attorney General Rob Bonta welcomed the judge's decision. 'Trump was treating these funds — money for roads and public safety — as a bargaining chip,' Bonta said. The states also have another case in Rhode Island challenging similar conditions the Homeland Security Department placed on other grant programs. The Trump administration has not yet commented on the ruling.
Indianapolis Star
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
T.J. McConnell's dad crashes son's postgame interview: 'He's a warrior… it doesn't matter how tall you are'
Once again T.J. McConnell proved a catalyst for the Indiana Pacers. The backup point guard scored 12 points in the Pacers' 108-91 Game 6 win of the NBA Finals and got the Gainbridge Fieldhouse crowd into a frenzy with his hustle plays. He added nine rebounds, six assists and four steals as the Pacers forced a decisive Game 7 back in Oklahoma City on Sunday night. In his postgame interview on NBA TV, McConnell's dad, Tim McConnell — one of Western Pennsylvania's most-accomplished high school basketball coaches — crashed the party. Tim was particularly tickled at the chance to talk with Isiah Thomas, admitting he was a "big fan." 'I'll tell you right now, he's a warrior… it doesn't matter how tall you are," Tim said of his son, who is listed at 6-1. 'What do you think of his performance tonight?' NBA TV's Jared Greenberg asked. 'Excellent. Just disappointed he missed two foul shots in the beginning," Tim said. "I kept saying, 'Man, I wish he had made those two foul shots, but he recovered, and we won the game, so I could forget about the foul shots. "Anything can happen in Game 7. We're going to OKC to try and win a world championship, and my son is a part of it, and I can't believe that.' McConnell's sister Megan is on the Phoenix Mercury, which led to a follow-up question from Isiah: "Why were you harder on him and softer on your daughter?' 'He says that, that's a lie,' Tim said. 'It's true,' T.J. responded. 'My daughter was an undefeated state championship. He lost in the state championship. We lost two games. So, undefeated…," Tim said with a shrug. "... He played great, but we didn't win it… The truth hurts… And now she's with the Mercury and I couldn't be more proud to say, 'I have a son in the NBA and I have a daughter in the WNBA. This is a dream come true. And I'm going to OKC for my son to play in a championship game and win the world championship."
