NEWYou tin present perceive to Fox News articles!
While the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrated the team’s archetypal NBA rubric since relocating successful 2008, the Indiana Pacers were reeling from Game 7’s nonaccomplishment successful the NBA Finals.
It came down to 1 last crippled aft a grueling conflict passim the regular play and postseason for some teams, but 1 was ever going to travel retired victorious implicit the other. It was the location Thunder who ran distant with it successful the 2nd half, and the emotions of the nonaccomplishment were hard for immoderate Pacers players, including seasoned defender T.J. McConnell.
McConnell, who poured successful 16 points aft Indiana mislaid Tyrese Haliburton for the crippled with a close Achilles injury, was intelligibly affectional arsenic helium near the tribunal pursuing the 103-91 loss.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
T.J. McConnell, #9 of the Indiana Pacers, handles the shot during the crippled against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game Seven of the 2025 NBA Finals connected June 22, 2025 astatine Paycom Center successful Oklahoma City. (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
The devastation of falling conscionable abbreviated was inactive mounting successful arsenic helium walked done the visitor’s passageway accompanied by Karen Atkeson, the Pacers’ vice president of Player Relations.
The 2 embraced arsenic they walked toward the locker room, and McConnell stopped to thin connected Atkeson’s enarthrosis to presumably fto retired each of his emotions.
THUNDER BLOW OUT PACERS IN GAME 7 TO WIN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP
An ESPN camera was capturing the moment, and Atkeson did not admit it, shooing distant the cameraman portion comforting McConnell.
"Stop, stop," Atkeson was heard saying portion waving the camera distant from her and McConnell.
Indiana Pacers defender T.J. McConnell, #9, dribbles against Oklahoma City Thunder defender Cason Wallace, #22, during the 2nd fractional of crippled 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals astatine Paycom Center. (Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images)
McConnell was besides spotted sharing a hug with Pacers large Reggie Miller, who was successful the Paycom Center supporting his erstwhile squad successful Game 7. Miller, successful the backmost hallways starring to the locker room, consoled McConnell, who remained affectional aft the game.
The Pacers and Thunder were trading blows connected the violative extremity erstwhile the crippled began, but Haliburton’s Achilles wounded enactment a damper connected what could person been a fantastic extremity for him aft hitting each but 1 of his 4 three-point attempts successful the archetypal quarter.
McConnell and the different Pacers were tasked with picking up the slack, and though the 10-year seasoned did his part, Indiana had occupation with turnovers and the Thunder capitalized.
McConnell completed his sixth NBA play with the Pacers aft opening his vocation with the Philadelphia 76ers.
T.J. McConnell, #9 of the Indiana Pacers, looks connected during the crippled against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game Seven of the 2025 NBA Finals connected June 22, 2025 astatine Paycom Center successful Oklahoma City. (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
In this year’s playoffs, helium averaged 9.5 points, 4.0 assists and 3.3 rebounds implicit 23 games, portion shooting 53.7% from the field.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Scott Thompson is simply a sports writer for Fox News Digital.
English (US) ·