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Trae Young Drops Major Praise For Unsung Indiana Pacers Hero in NBA Playoffs

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics
By Angelo Guinhawa | Last updated 5/20/24

No one would have expected T.J. McConnell to come up big for the Indiana Pacers in their Game 7 win over the New York Knicks . This prompted Atlanta Hawks’ All-Star guard Trae Young to rain some praise on his name after a heroic playoff performance.

Just recently, the Pacers clinched the series by getting the 130-109 win over New York. Tyrese Haliburton put on a show by dropping 26 points on 58 percent shooting from the field, four rebounds, and six assists. Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nembhard added 20 points each, while McConnell posted 12 points and seven assists from the bench. Myles Turner also tallied 17 points and four blocks to help Indiana go home with the dub.

Unfortunately, All-Star guard Jalen Brunson fractured his left hand and left the game during the third quarter. Before he did, though, the Knicks star posted 17 points and nine assists in 29 minutes on the court. Donte DiVincenzo led his team with 39 points on 60 percent shooting from deep, while Alec Burks came off the bench to finish the game with 26 points.

Brunson’s injury killed any chance for the Knicks to to advance, especially after dealing with other major injuries to the lineup. The Pacers, on the other hand, advance to the Conference Finals for the first time since All-Star wing Paul George led the franchise in 2014.

T.J. McConnell Gets Massive Praise From Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young After Indiana Pacers’ Game 7 Win

After the game, various personalities shared their thoughts on the Pacers’ win over New York. Among those who reacted was Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young, particularly his praise on McConnell’s performance.

“Nobody can tell me T.J. McConnell don’t have game,” Young tweeted.

Along with Indiana’s starting unit, McConnell provided a much-needed spark from the bench for his team. He also posted two rebounds, one block, and a steal in 23 minutes on the court, helping the Pacers get over New York to clinch the series.

McConnell’s heroics from the bench will be a boon for Indiana, especially since they’ll face a more experienced Boston Celtics team in the Conference Finals. Expect the guard to come up big again when their series starts soon.

This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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