From an offensive perspective, T.J. McConnell gave the Philadelphia 76ers exactly what they had been missing—explosive energy, composure, and relentless aggression. During one highlight play, after finishing a layup, he looked at his hand in disbelief, as if asking himself, “Did I really just do that?” That image quickly became a symbol of a night where McConnell captured the hearts of the Philadelphia crowd. Every time he touched the ball in the fourth quarter, fans chanted “T.J., T.J.” in unison.
McConnell had shown flashes in Game 2, but coach Brett Brown pulled him late in favor of Ben Simmons, a move that backfired. In Game 3, both JJ Redick and Simmons committed critical turnovers down the stretch. But in this game, McConnell’s poise helped the Sixers limit turnovers to just eight, while his ball pressure helped force the Celtics into 15 turnovers. The numbers don’t lie—Philadelphia is now 8-0 this season when McConnell scores 15 or more points. With that kind of impact, Brown may finally have realized how to better manage his rotation.
McConnell’s success inside the paint is another reason he changed the game. This season, 30.9 percent of his attempts have come within five feet, and in this game, 14 of his 19 points came from inside the paint. Compared to Simmons, McConnell is also a much more effective midrange shooter—he converted 51 of 102 jumpers this season for a 50 percent accuracy rate. That floor spacing is critical against teams like Boston that thrive on collapsing the paint.
His dual-threat ability opened up the offense. One notable third-quarter play saw him penetrate the defense, draw the double-team, and find Simmons for a thunderous dunk. But his value didn’t stop at the offensive end. On defense, McConnell was key in neutralizing Terry Rozier. Previously averaging 29, 20, and 18 points in the first three games, Rozier was held to just 11. McConnell’s quick feet and physicality proved more effective than the larger wings like Simmons or Covington.
On both ends, McConnell resembled a young Matthew Dellavedova—gritty, tireless, and smart. In the first three games, Philly’s losses could largely be attributed to executional details. Boston coach Brad Stevens outmaneuvered Brett Brown repeatedly, especially in Game 3. Stevens used late-game timeouts to manipulate switches and isolate favorable matchups, drawing Joel Embiid to the high post and feeding Jaylen Brown or Al Horford inside.
While the Sixers’ starting lineup of Embiid, Dario Saric, Simmons, Redick, and Covington worked well against Miami, it struggled against Boston’s tougher, more athletic interior defenders. With Aron Baynes and Horford able to single-cover Embiid, the Celtics avoided double-teams, limiting open looks for Philly’s shooters. Simmons, meanwhile, was exposed by Boston’s defense, which forced him into uncomfortable perimeter shots.
Covington, once a reliable two-way player, became a liability—shooting a combined 0-for-14 in Games 1 and 3. Defensively, Philly couldn’t stop Boston’s young stars—Rozier, Jayson Tatum, and Brown—who consistently drove past perimeter defenders. When Embiid switched out, the paint became exposed, and Boston punished those gaps.
But McConnell’s Game 4 performance offered a glimmer of hope and reminded fans of past underdog playoff stories, like Dellavedova’s scrappy battles with Stephen Curry. Sometimes, the smallest adjustments—like giving the ball to a bench player with heart—can rewrite the narrative. For now, T.J. McConnell may just be the unexpected catalyst the Sixers needed.