The Indiana Pacers have been trending in the right direction lately, showing signs of life as they slowly get healthier. One of the key returnees has been veteran guard T.J.
McConnell, whose energy and leadership off the bench have been a welcome boost for a Pacers team still battling through injuries. But in Monday night’s 135-119 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, McConnell was barely a factor-logging just six minutes on the floor-and his absence was felt.
Naturally, that raised some eyebrows. Given McConnell’s recent return from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the first 10 games of the season, fans feared the worst.
But head coach Rick Carlisle quickly put those concerns to rest. According to Carlisle, McConnell wasn’t reinjured-just feeling some residual soreness after a taxing weekend back-to-back against the Wizards and Bulls, both of which Indiana won.
“He was a little sore after those two games,” Carlisle said. “Got him warmed up… he said he was OK.
But once he started playing, he just didn't look himself. The hope is he'll be ready for Wednesday, but there's no injury.”
That’s a sigh of relief for a Pacers team that’s been through the wringer health-wise. McConnell may not be the flashiest name on the roster, but his presence matters-especially on a team that’s trying to build rhythm and cohesion amid constant lineup changes. Assuming there are no setbacks, he’s expected to be available when the Pacers host the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night.
But even with McConnell at full strength, Indiana has some deeper issues to work through-starting with their defense. Last season, the Pacers were at least able to hang their hat on that end of the floor.
This year? Not so much.
The absence of Myles Turner, who left in free agency, has left a noticeable void in the middle. And with McConnell sidelined for most of the night, Indiana lacked the perimeter pressure and playmaking spark that he typically brings.
That became painfully clear against a red-hot Cavaliers offense led by Donovan Mitchell, who dropped 43 points in a performance that Indiana simply couldn’t match. The Pacers’ defensive rotations were a step slow, their communication spotty, and their transition defense nearly non-existent as Cleveland poured it on.
The loss marked Indiana’s 10th double-digit defeat of the season-a stat that underscores just how inconsistent this group has been. For every encouraging step forward, there seems to be a stumble right behind it. Monday’s game was a reminder that while the Pacers are making progress in some areas, they’re still trying to find their footing in a season that’s already tested their depth, resilience, and identity.
The good news? They’ve shown they can compete when healthy.
The bad news? Staying healthy has been the biggest challenge of all.
With McConnell hopefully back in the mix on Wednesday, the Pacers will look to regroup quickly-because against the reigning champs, there’s no room for half-measures.