T.J. McConnell Out with Injury, Pacers Adjust Roster
Indiana Pacers backup point guard T.J. McConnell will be out for at least a month due to a hamstring injury suffered in the first preseason game, according to coach Rick Carlisle.McConnell was injured during Tuesday night’s preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Faced with this situation, the Pacers acted quickly to reinforce their point guard position, signing veteran Cameron Payne to a training camp contract. As a result, the team cut point guard Delon Wright, who also left the preseason game due to a head injury. McConnell, 33, averaged 9.1 points and 4.4 assists last season in 79 games. In the playoffs, he contributed 9.5 points and 4 assists in 23 games, helping the Pacers reach the NBA Finals. The Pacers were already facing a significant absence at the point guard position, with the absence of star Tyrese Haliburton, who will be out for the season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered in the seventh game of the Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Andrew Nembhard will take over the starting point guard position in Haliburton’s absence. The Pacers’ regular season will begin on October 23, facing the Thunder in a Finals rematch.It’s not as bad as it could have been, but it will take some time.
Rick Carlisle
