Damian Lillard returned to action in Game 6 of the Milwaukee Bucks- Indiana Pacers series Thursday night, hoping that he would be able to help his team stave off elimination. Instead, he got cooked by…wait for it…TJ McConnell.
Lillard is an eight-time NBA All-Star and a member of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, accolades McConnell can only dream of. But in Game 6, McConnell did not just keep up with the Bucks superstar point guard; he outplayed him.
To be fair to Lillard, he probably was still not at his 100 percent form in Game 6 after missing two games with an Achilles issue. He did score 28 points but was just 7/17 from the floor in 35 minutes of action. McConnell, on the other hand, came off the bench and fired 22 points on much more efficient 7/9 shooting from the field with nine assists and a plus/minus of +22 in just 23 minutes.
“DAMIAN LILLARD WENT FROM CURRY TALKS TO GETTING OUTPLAYED BY MCCONNELL IN AN ELIMINATION GAME,” said X user @30problemz.
T.J. McConnell looking at Damian Lillard pic.twitter.com/F4ufUjJtf4
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) May 3, 2024
“McConnell totally outplaying Lillard is the most beautiful thing i’ve seen so far,” shared @WhiteboyJimmer.
Damian Lillard playing hurt to save the Bucks season
TJ McConnell: pic.twitter.com/Wpi7pmaywP
— Lock & Cash Sports (@lockandcash) May 3, 2024
“I never thought I’d see the day that Dame Lillard is being cooked by McConnell. #NBAonTNT,”
@Babyblack1977 pointed out.
“Lillard is a bagless FT merchant getting outscored by McConnell playing ethical hoops,” stated @WandasAbed.
From @GobertWRLD: “Congratulations to McConnell on the birth of his new son!!! Sources report that his name will be Damian Lillard-McConnell .”
Via DxmnYellow: “Lillard ran from the grind just to get torched 1st round by TJ McConnell….”
“TJ McConnell is completely outplaying Dame Lillard in an elimination game, Heat dodged a massive bullet,” said @DosMinutos, who referenced the Miami Heat’s flirtation with the idea of trading for Lillard back in the last summer.
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