It was a special night for T.J. McConnell on Wednesday, as he got it done on both ends of the floor in a 114-111 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Coming off the bench, the Pacers guard racked up nine steals in the first-half, setting a new NBA record.
It didn’t take long for McConnell, as he checked into the game with 6:20 remaining in the first quarter. With 15.2 seconds remaining in the second quarter, he had set the record.
The previous single-half record was eight, and the NBA record for steals in a full game is 11, an accolade shared by Spurs’ Larry Kenon (Dec. 26, 1976) and Nets’ Kendall Gill (April 3, 1999).
TJ McConnell had NINE steals in the first half.
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) March 4, 2021
The NBA record for steals in a game is 11… (via @NBA) pic.twitter.com/qWo6dmzcVd
Along with setting the record, McConnell stuffed the stat sheet and finished the game with 16 points, 13 assists and a franchise-best 10 steals to mark his second career triple-double. He became only the 11th player to record a triple-double with 10 steals and the first by a player coming off the bench (per NBA.com).
Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff praised McConnell for his all-around performance:
“McConnell earned it, he earned it tonight. He’s a pest all the time. He’s super competitive all the time.”
TJ McConnell tonight:
— StatMuse (@statmuse) March 4, 2021
16 PTS
13 AST
10 STL (9 in 1st half, NBA record)
8-8 FG
He is the first player to record a triple-double with steals on 100% shooting since steals became official in 1973-74. pic.twitter.com/zv8LpTipAd
The un-drafted six-year point guard prides himself on always being a team-first guy and says that he wasn’t focused solely on snagging steals. McConnell’s defensive effort, and offensive contributions, helped the Pacers come back from a 19-point deficit.
“I was just playing with our defensive principles and trying to help run the team, I wasn’t going out of my way to make steals,” McConnell said. “We kind of dug ourselves a hole, so I’m happiest about the win.”
McConnell and the Pacers will be back on the court tonight as they face off against the Nuggets.
