Indiana Pacers point guard T.J. McConnell will be sidelined at least a month with a left hamstring injury, head coach Rick Carlisle confirmed Thursday. The veteran backup exited during the second quarter of Tuesday's preseason game against the host Minnesota Timberwolves and did not return. The Pacers open the regular season against the Oklahoma City Thunder in a 2025 NBA Finals rematch on Oct. 23 in Indianapolis. Already without All-Star guard Tyrese Haliburton (Achilles) for the season, McConnell's timeline means he could miss at least the first 10 games of the regular season. McConnell, 33, averaged 9.1 points, 4.4 assists, 2.4 rebounds 1.1 steals and 17.9 minutes in 79 games (one start) last season. A career 34.5 percent shooter from 3-point range, he has averaged 7.6 points, 5.0 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 706 games (97 starts) for the Philadelphia 76ers (2015-19) and Pacers (2020-present). –Field Level Media
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