TJ McConnell and Obi Toppin came off the bench to inspire the Indiana Pacers to a series-clinching 120-98 win over the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the NBA play-offs.
McConnell scored 20 points and Toppin 21 as the Pacers won Game Six to advance to their first Eastern Conference semi-final in a decade.
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The Bucks were again without two-time league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo but Damian Lillard did return to score 28 points in a losing effort.
Milwaukee’s bench players were unable to replicate the efforts of McConnell and Toppin, however, who were pivotal for the home side.
“It means a lot,” McConnell said. “Not getting into the play-offs since the bubble, not being able to advance since 2014, we take great pride in being able to advance and extend our season.
“Milwaukee has a great team and, if I can be honest with you, I think our bench has taken a couple steps back competitive wise and I think tonight all of us went out there with the mentality we’re going to take it to another level.”
Obi Toppin and T.J. McConnell combined for 41 points and set new playoff career-highs off the bench in tonight’s series-clinching win pic.twitter.com/CG17Y9RbgY
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) May 3, 2024
Toppin added: “”TJ actually helped me today, told me to be aggressive, told me to be myself.
”Everybody did their jobs today, from the starters to the bench, everybody had a good game.”
The 2021 champion Bucks had no answer to Indiana’s relentlessness as they suffered their second successive first-round exit.
Coach Doc Rivers said: “They’ve created a hell of a team, not only young, I think the [Pascal] Siakam trade really will change their fortunes going forward.
“They’re just a tough team. Obviously, we had guys out and all that, and that’s hard, right? But let’s give them credit. I thought they played terrific.”
Indiana will now go on to face the New York Knicks with Game One coming on Monday in New York.
