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New York Post
Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton shouts out T.J. McConnell’s wife after teammate’s massive game
By Jaclyn Hendricks,
14 days ago
A special fan in Indiana appeared to motivate Pacers guard T.J. McConnell on Thursday as the team closed out their first-round playoff series against the Bucks with a 120-96 win in Indianapolis.
When speaking to the media after the Game 6 clash, in which McConnell logged 20 points, two rebounds and nine assists, teammate Tyrese Haliburton credited his teammate’s wife, Val, for the dominant outing.
“I knew he was going to respond cause his wife Val is here and I always tell him he plays better when Val is at the game,” Haliburton said.
"His wife Val was here and I always tell him he plays better when Val is at the games."
Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) drives past Milwaukee Bucks guard Patrick Beverley (21) during the first half of their Game 6 matchup on May 2, 2024. AP
Haliburton, who added 17 points with six rebounds and 10 assists Thursday, explained McConnell felt “a little down” after his performance in Tuesday’s Game 5 loss, where he logged just six points, three rebounds and three assists.
“I just told him after the game, ‘Hey, we’re going to go home and Val’s going to be at the game and you’re going to be better,’ and it happened so shoutout Val,” Haliburton said.
McConnell, 32, dated Val for years before the couple tied the knot in 2017.
The McConnells tied the knot in 2017. T.J. McConnell/Instagram Tyrese Haliburton gave a shout out to T.J. McConnell’s wife following the Pacers’ Game 6 win over the Bucks. NBA/X
“I felt like tonight was one of my better, ‘Let the game come to me’ games,” McConnell said postgame, according to The Athletic .
“I feel like I’ve tried to force the issue a couple of games and it hasn’t worked out the way I’d like to.”
T.J. McConnell celebrates after a three-point basket against the Bucks on May 2, 2024. Getty Images
Undrafted out of Arizona, McConnell began his NBA career with the 76ers in 2015 before joining the Pacers in 2019.
He has averaged 10.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game this year.
The Pacers, the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, will face the No. 2 seed Knicks in the semifinal round beginning Monday at Madison Square Garden.
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