During Saturday night's game against the Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell suffered a right ankle sprain in just 19 seconds of action. After suffering the injury, he was seen limping on his way to the locker room.
T.J. McConnell heads to the Indiana Pacers’ locker room after being slow to get up due to a lower body injury. He slapped the court a few times out of frustration before being helped up. pic.twitter.com/4huJMU1ODT
— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) March 9, 2025
McConnell recently missed a pair of games due to an injury on the same ankle. While there is no update regarding the severity of his injury, there is cause for concern. The Pacers have officially ruled McConnell out for the remainder of the game against Atlanta.
T.J. McConnell will not return tonight. https://t.co/FU6S9rM6sO
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) March 9, 2025
T.J. McConnell re-injures right ankle vs. Hawks
Given that the Pacers were already without starting point guard Tyrese Haliburton due to a hip injury, McConnell's injury is even more concerning. While far from the most valuable player on the Pacers roster, there is no denying that he plays an important role in the team's success.
This season, McConnell is averaging 9.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.2 steals across 58 games. Hopefully for McConnell and the Pacers, his injury is not too severe.
With just over a month left in the regular season, every game from here on out is important for the Pacers. They are essentially guaranteed a playoff spot for the second consecutive season, but they have an opportunity to secure a top-four seed for the first time since 2020. Currently, they own the No. 5 seed and are just one game behind the Milwaukee Bucks for the No. 4 seed. If McConnell is forced to miss any time, it will be another tough obstacle for the Pacers to overcome as they aim to replicate their postseason success from last year.
When healthy, the Pacers are one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. They have one of the best offenses in the league and have drastically improved their defense. Though they still have their flaws, the Pacers are a well-rounded team and are a scary threat for any other team in the NBA when they are clicking.
The Pacers' next game is on Monday night against the Chicago Bulls. Until there is more clarity on McConnell's injury, his status will be worth monitoring for Pacers fans. Assuming he misses time, the Pacers will likely rely more heavily on Tyrese Haliburton (once he returns) and Andrew Nembhard to run the point. Additionally, a player like RayJ Dennis or Quenton Jackson could also get some more opportunities. Regardless of what happens, the Pacers will surely hope to see McConnell on the court sooner rather than later.