They may not be the headliners of this Indiana Pacers team, but T.J. McConnell and Obi Toppin have made it clear that they are willing to do whatever it takes to win the NBA title. The 2025 NBA Finals are heading to a deciding Game 7, and Indiana’s title push would not have made it this far without this pair of reserves. 

McConnell, as usual, was all over the floor. The veteran guard delivered another all-around performance with 12 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and four steals, doing a little bit of everything in his classic fashion.

Toppin was in full flight during the Pacers’ season-saving win in Game 6. The 27-year-old forward came off the bench to score 20 points on six-of-12 shooting, including four-of-seven from beyond the arc. He also grabbed six rebounds in just 20 minutes of play.

These may not be the flashiest statlines of the series, but in the NBA Finals, every inch counts, and they have contributed their fair share of inches for Indiana’s cause. The Pacers do not just lean on one superstar—they rely on the strength of their full rotation–and the regular contributions of McConnell and Toppin have been invaluable.

Toppin has played the best basketball of his career in these NBA Finals, averaging 12.8 points on 48.3% shooting and 5.5 rebounds per game. Only Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam have scored more for Indiana in this series so far, highlighting how impactful Toppin has truly been.

His performance has also been quite significant from a historical perspective: Toppin and seven-time champion Robert Horry are the only bench players in NBA Finals history with at least 70 points, 30 rebounds, and 12 three-pointers in a single series. 

McConnell’s presence has been just as valuable. The 33-year-old energizer has been a cult hero over the course of his 10-year career, but his contributions are being recognized on a global scale. Like Toppin, he has made history in this series as the first bench player in NBA Finals history with totals of least 60 points, 25 assists, and 15 rebounds.

He’s also tied with Alex Caruso for the most steals by a reserve in a single Finals series with 14. McConnell continues to create chaos on defense while providing steady ballhandling, often playing alongside Haliburton to let the All-NBA guard hunt for shots off the ball.

This year’s Game 7 marks the first time since 2016 that the NBA Finals will go the distance. This game is likely to go down the wire and end up as a virtual coin toss. If the Pacers are to finish the job, they’ll need one more big performance from their reserve duo of McConnell and Toppin to support their starters. If their recent play is any indication, they should be up for the challenge.