T.J. McConnell steals a win for the Indiana Pacers
A little over a week before LeVert joined the active roster, T.J. McConnell put together one of the most impressive individual performances in the NBA this season. He posted a triple-double against the Cavs that included 10 steals and a perfect 8-for-8 shooting.
As the primary backup point guard, there were some crucial situations this season that required a log of minutes from McConnell. He stepped in and played over 36 minutes on March 3 against the Cavs, finishing with 16 points, 13 assists, and 10 steals. He did it while only turning the ball over twice and not missing a shot.
There will always be guys that drop 50 points in a game and get the recognition they deserve. However, you aren’t going to see many guys go out and dominate both ends of the floor while carrying the team to a win off the bench.
Indiana has struggled mightily defensively this season but the hustle from McConnell has bailed them out on more than a few occasions. His knack for finding the ball or stealing inbounds passes has placed McConnell near the top of the league in steals. In fact, T.J. was second in steals per game and first in total steals on the season.
The Pacers did not make national headlines much this season but McConnell’s night in Cleveland earned some love.