Game‑Five Whiplash: McConnell’s 13‑Point Frenzy Almost Turns the Tide—Then a Puzzling Fourth‑Quarter Seat Cools the Pacers’ Comeback

The Indiana Pacers left Paycom Center on Monday night feeling both jolted by possibility and haunted by what‑ifs. Veteran guard T.J. McConnell detonated for 13 points in a whirlwind third‑quarter cameo that chopped an 18‑point deficit to a single‑possession game, only to spend the crunch‑time minutes watching from the bench as Oklahoma City rebuilt its lead and closed out a 120‑109 victory in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. The result gives the Thunder a 3‑2 series edge heading back to Indianapolis, and it leaves Indiana fans asking whether a championship moment slipped through their fingers the instant McConnell’s warm‑ups went back on.

Through two and a half quarters the Pacers had been stuck in neutral, hindered by 23 turnovers and a visibly hobbled Tyrese Haliburton (four points on 0‑for‑6 shooting). Then McConnell checked in with 6:40 left in the third and single‑handedly rewired the game’s energy. Darting into passing lanes, flying by bigger defenders for push‑shots, and barking instructions like an on‑court field general, he poured in 13 of his eventual 18 on 6‑of‑8 shooting, dished four assists, swiped two steals, and — most importantly — forced the Thunder to burn two time‑outs while the Pacers ripped off a 17‑4 run. As the stanza closed, Indiana trailed just 85‑83, and the arena’s earlier hum had turned to nervous silence.

Oklahoma City’s response, however, was ruthless. Jalen Williams erupted for a postseason‑best 40 points, 24 in the second half, while MVP Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander added 31 and 10 assists. Coach Mark Daigneault’s decision to move SGA off the ball and unlock Isaiah Hartenstein’s elbow passing gave the Thunder cutting lanes that eventually punished every delayed rotation. Still, when Pascal Siakam hit a top‑of‑the‑arc triple to slice the gap to two early in the fourth, it felt as if McConnell’s chaos engine might push Indiana over the top.

Instead, head coach Rick Carlisle turned to his usual closing lineup. McConnell sat for nearly six straight minutes while the Thunder launched a 10‑0 rebuttal capped by a Lu Dort corner three. Carlisle later cited fatigue management and “match‑up spacing” as reasons for riding Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard, but that explanation rang hollow to many observers given McConnell’s incandescent stretch and Haliburton’s obvious limitations. Social media lit up within seconds: “Ride the hot hand!” trended in Indiana; national analysts openly wondered why the Finals’ most disruptive sequence to date was shelved in favor of lineups that had sputtered all evening.

Data backs the eye test. During McConnell’s 22 minutes the Pacers were +7 in net rating; during the 26 he sat they were –18. His third‑quarter on‑court offensive rating of 138 dwarfed Indiana’s 92 over the rest of the night. The veteran also generated the Pacers’ highest pace factor, underscoring how his downhill bursts masked Haliburton’s immobility and eased Siakam’s play‑making load. Carlisle’s choice to reinsert the starters coincided with five consecutive empty possessions: two turnovers, two rushed threes, one blocked post‑up. By the time McConnell returned, Oklahoma City had restored a double‑digit cushion and clamped down in half‑court defense.

Coaches live by rotations developed over an 82‑game marathon, yet the Finals demand real‑time improvisation. Carlisle has generally pushed the right buttons this postseason—McConnell’s surprise start in Game 2 remains a masterstroke—but Monday showed the razor’s edge between loyalty and stubbornness. “You never want to lose the forest for the trees,” he admitted post‑game, acknowledging the staff had debated re‑inserting McConnell sooner. “We thought we could buy him a little rest and still keep the pressure on. It didn’t unfold that way.” The veteran guard, ever the professional, deflected controversy: “I’m here to be ready whenever my number’s called,” he said. “We’re still breathing. That’s all that matters.”

The subplot intertwining all of this is Haliburton’s calf strain. The All‑Star guard has soldiered through pain since a Game 3 spill and looked a step slow again. Oklahoma City’s defense, sensing blood, switched aggressively to trap passing angles and dared Indiana’s secondary ball‑handlers to beat them. If Haliburton remains compromised, McConnell’s offensive orchestration becomes even more indispensable. Whether Carlisle sees it that way in Game 6 could define the Pacers’ season.

At 33, McConnell is often cast as an overachiever—a former undrafted free agent whose calling card is hustle, not headline numbers. Yet his Game 5 surge—built on anticipation, sudden acceleration, and sheer nerve—showcased why teammates call him the locker room’s “battery pack.” He has become the Finals wildcard few outside Indiana anticipated, the archetype of a role player whose kinetic spurts can flip quarters, series, maybe even banners. If the Pacers are to force a decisive Game 7, they may need to lean fully into that volatile energy rather than ration it.

The Pacers haven’t lost back‑to‑back games since March. They will also enjoy the roar of Gainbridge Fieldhouse, where bench players traditionally feed off the crowd. But the Thunder’s youth and composure grow more daunting each night. Jalen Williams’ Game‑5 star turn signals Oklahoma City’s expanding threat matrix, and SGA’s poise has yet to waver. Adjustments on both benches loom: will Carlisle double down on speed and chaos, handing McConnell 30‑plus minutes, or return to established pecking orders? Will Daigneault pre‑empt that by starting a bigger wing to neutralize paint probes?

Game 5 will be remembered either as the moment the Thunder seized control or the cautionary tale that sparked an epic Pacers reversal. McConnell’s brief takeover demonstrated that momentum in the Finals can be a fragile chemical reaction—electrifying when ignited, evaporating when bottled. Thursday night, Indiana must decide whether to uncork that volatility from tip‑off or risk watching it fizzle on the sideline once more. Because if the Pacers fall short, the freeze‑frame of McConnell sitting, legs twitching, while the Thunder celebrate may haunt the franchise far longer than any single turnover or missed rotation.