TJ McConnell Returns to Save the Pacers' Offense from Itself
Underdog NBA reported McConnell is officially available to play Saturday.
TJ McConnell is finally back from a hamstring injury, which means the might actually remember how to run a functional offense.
The veteran point guard is officially available for Saturday's matchup against the . McConnell has been sidelined since straining his left hamstring in an October 7 preseason game, forcing him to miss the first month of the regular season and leaving a massive void in the backcourt.
The timing could not be better for a 3-6 squad that is currently trying to survive without . When McConnell is healthy, he is a chaotic engine of . Last season, he averaged 9.4 points and 5.1 assists in just 17.2 minutes a night, proving you do not need a massive usage rate to completely tilt a basketball game.
Watching a McConnell-less Pacers offense is like watching someone try to parallel park a school bus in a compact space. It is slow, painful, and usually ends in a turnover. We all remember the 2024 playoffs where was plus-19 with him on the floor and a catastrophic minus-32 when he sat. He is the duct tape holding this rotation together.
The betting markets are not exactly giving a hero's welcome, listing the Nuggets as an 8-point favorite with a massive 229.5-point total. But having McConnell back gives the a fighting chance to stay competitive and actually run a real second unit. Expect him to be eased back into the rotation, but even a limited dose of McConnell is better than whatever has been doing for the last month.