The return of TJ McConnell has the fans happy for the first game since the finals
Some help is on the way for Indiana Pacers for their Tuesday night matchup against the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City.
Veteran point guard TJ McConnell is suits up for his first game in the 2025-26 NBA season — and the first since the Pacers reached the 2025 NBA Finals — as Indiana faces the Jazz at the Delta Center.
“TJ McConnell (left hamstring strain) is available for tonight’s game against the Jazz, per Coach Carlisle,” the Pacers announced via a social media post on X, formerly Twitter.
Of course, the news of McConnell’s return caused a lot of excited reactions from Pacers fans.
“TJ is back at the aura farm in our new jersey,” one fan commented.
“Welcome back White Lightning ⚡,” the social media user enthused on Ks common.
“Great white hope 🙏🏻 I feel so much better now!!” a different comment to read.
“YES!! Welcome back TJM!!! We missed you!” he answered another commentator.
“It was a rough start. Glad to see him,” another fan he said.
McConnell was unable to see action in the Pacers’ first 10 games of the 2025-26 season as he dealt with a hamstring injury, leaving Indiana’s backcourt much thinner. Indiana is already missing star point guard Tyrese Halliburton for the entire 2025-26 season due to an Achilles tear he suffered in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
During that seven-game stretch, McConnell provided a spark off the bench for the Pacers, during which he lasted averages of 12.0 points, 4.3 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 steals in 20.3 minutes after exiting. He also shot 55.2 percent from the field and hit 60.0 percent of his attempts from behind the arc in the Thunder series.
Hopefully for the Pacers, McConnell’s return can help them snap a four game skid and improve their 1-9 record which is tied for second worst in the Eastern Conference.
2025-11-12 01:22:00
