Indiana Pacers fans were anxious about why TJ McConnell played only six minutes in the first quarter of Monday’s 135-119 loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers and didn’t return. The 33-year-old guard had four points, one rebound, and one assist.
McConnell missed the first seven games of the season due to a hamstring injury he sustained in preseason. After the game, Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle reassured fans that the veteran guard sat for the rest of the game as a precaution and nothing else.
“He played in the back-to-back, his first back-to-back on Friday and Saturday,” Carlisle said of McConnell via Dustin Dopirak of IndyStar. “He was a little sore after those two games. We got him warmed up and everything before the game. He said he was OK, but once he started playing, he just didn’t look himself.”
“I thought it was best just to pull the plug for tonight. The hope is that he’ll be ready for Wednesday, but there’s no injury or anything like that,” he added.
Indiana Pacers sign Garrison Mathews to second 10-day contract
The Indiana Pacers received another hardship exception on Monday, which they used to sign Garrison Mathews to a second 10-day contract, and the 29-year-old swingman repaid the team’s trust last night.
Against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Mathews came off the bench and produced 15 points on a perfect 3-for-3 shooting from the field and 6-for-9 from the free throw line in 25 minutes.
“His experience. His shooting ability,” Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle of Mathews, via Tony East of Forbes. “He’s a spacer and a guy that can change the geometry of the game with his shooting.”
