With the series on the line, Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown installed point guard and former Arizona Wildcat T.J. McConnell into the starting lineup in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Boston Celtics Monday night.
Normally coming off the bench for rookie superstar Ben Simmons, McConnell replaced season-long starter Robert Covington, and scored a career-high 19 points in the Sixers' 103-92 win over the Celtics. McConnell also scored 14 points inside the paint.
Brown told reporters after the game that the decision to start McConnell came on Sunday, and Covington wasn't informed until prior to the game.Β
Known as a pass-first point guard, McConnell displayed just that throughout the course of game including a highlight assist to Ben Simmons in the first half.Β
T.J. McConnell dime alert! π pic.twitter.com/J0aqIN429N
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) May 7, 2018
The most minutes McConnell played in a playoff game was 17, which he eclipsed in the first half alone.Β
McConnell finished the night shooting 9 of 12 from the field with 5 assists and 7 rebounds in 39 minutes. McConnell was the second on the team in scoring Monday night as Dario Saric scored a game-high 25 points.
"That's how he plays. There's an injection of energy you immediately know you're going to get with him. ... He’s got unusual characteristics that you wouldn’t think would be as successful in an NBA playoff game. All of them equal a tenacity, a heart, a commitment, a competitiveness," Brown told Zack Rosenblatt of NJ.com.
Per ESPN Stats and Info, the Sixers are 8-0 this season when McConnell scores at least 15 points.
Monday night was the most recent game McConnell grabbed the attention of the NBA community. Earlier this season, he tabbed his first career triple-double, becoming the first player in franchise history to record one.
The Sixers will now head to Boston for Game 5 on Wednesday for a time that is to be determined, but will be televised on TNT.Β
