Pacers’ T.J. McConnell Out Minimum One Month With Left Hamstring Strain
pacers-tj-mcconnell-out-one-month-hamstring-strain
Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell will be sidelined for at least four weeks after suffering a left hamstring strain, head coach Rick Carlisle announced Thursday (Oct. 9).
The 33-year-old veteran exited Tuesday’s preseason opener in the second quarter and did not return. The setback leaves Indiana even thinner at point guard; All-Star Tyrese Haliburton is already out for the 2025-26 season with a torn Achilles tendon sustained in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, and second-round pick Kam Jones is expected to miss several weeks because of a back injury.
McConnell, entering his 11th NBA campaign and seventh with the Pacers, appeared in 79 regular-season games last year, averaging 9.1 points, 4.4 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 17.9 minutes. He maintained similar production in 23 playoff contests, posting 9.5 points, 4.0 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 0.9 steals over 17.5 minutes a night.
Indiana initially planned to bring in Monte Morris to compete for the third-string job behind Andrew Nembhard and McConnell, but that agreement collapsed when Morris suffered a calf strain. Veteran Delon Wright was signed as a replacement, yet the Pacers waived him Thursday morning after Wright absorbed two hard blows to the head in Tuesday’s game. Wright later revealed on social media that he required 10 stitches above his right eye and four in his right elbow.
The Pacers have since added Cameron Payne, who is expected to serve as the primary backup while McConnell recovers. “We’ve seen a lot of Cam the last two years with Milwaukee and New York,” Carlisle said. “His speed and long-range shooting are high level. He’s experienced, knows the game, has good feel, and he’s a play-maker.”
Indiana opens the regular season Oct. 28.
Source: Hoops Rumors
