Indiana Pacers: Player grades from thrilling win over the Utah Jazz

The Indiana Pacers enjoyed massive performances from both Malcolm Brogdon and TJ McConnell

For the first time this season, I simply can’t decide who to give the Game MVP nod to. There’s simply too small of a margin to catapult one over the other.

Coming off impressive performances of their own against the Nuggets, the Indiana Pacers’ point guards took their games up to another level against the Jazz, constantly pressuring Utah in the open floor and stirring the pot for the Pacers to win the battle of mismatches.

Malcolm Brogdon finished with a game-high 30 points, nine rebounds, and four assists on 10 of 23 shooting from the floor. While he failed to connect much from three-point land, sinking just two out of seven tries, Brogdon managed to protect the rock this time, only coughing the ball up once.

On the other hand, TJ McConnell ended with 21 points, eight rebounds, and five assists on a wildly efficient 10 of 14 shooting off the bench, making timely baskets to avert the Jazz’s runs in both halves while playing pesky defense on Donovan Mitchell and Mike Conley all night.

At their best, Brogdon and McConnell gives the club a solid two-way one-two punch in the position who can give opposing backcourts nightmares on both ends. If both playmakers continue their level of play so far this season, then the Indiana Pacers will certainly continue their rise in the standings.

Malcolm Brogdon & TJ McConnell: A+