Tirese Halliburton complements TiJ McConnell
In a season filled with growing pains for Indiana Pacersone moment stood out as truly special. Veteran guard TJ McConnell engraved his name in NBA history 127-119 Indiana win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday. He became only the second player ever to record 3,000 career assists off the bench. The rarity of the feat, previously accomplished only by Lou Williams, prompted an immediate reaction from the franchise star Tyrese Halliburton. The latter called the milestone ‘crazy’ and ‘special’ on social media. It highlighted McConnell’s unlikely path from undrafted prospect to elite backup playmaker.
McConnell reached the finish line early. He provided the historic assist in the first quarter as part of his usual high-energy leadership on the floor. Now in his 11th NBA season, the Arizona product has long built a reputation as one of the league’s most reliable bench conductors. He combines relentless pace with sharp decision-making. Averaging 10.0 points and 4.9 assists in 2025–26, McConnell continues to be a stabilizing force for a roster looking for consistency.
That consistency has been elusive for Indiana this season. The Pacers are 10-32, last in the Eastern Conference. Injuries derailed momentum early and often. Halliburton’s Achilles injury is the biggest. That forced Andrew Nembhardt into an expanded role, while Pascal Siakam carries the primary scoring burden. The victories were rare, but the effort was not.
For McConnell, the milestone adds another chapter to a career defined by perseverance. Despite the lack of time earlier in the year with a hamstring injuryhe remained the vocal leader and tone-setter. In a difficult season, his historic nights, and Halliburton’s public greetingit served as a reminder that significant moments are still important despite losses.
2026-01-17 05:31:00
