標籤: fakes

The Indiana Pacers (15-43) aren’t too concerned about winning games this season, but head coach Rick Carlisle still needs enough healthy players to finish the campaign. Veteran point guard TJ McConnell tried to scare his teammates a little during Tuesday night’s home game against the Philadelphia 76ers (31-26).

McConnell recorded a steal and had an uncontested breakaway at the end of the first quarter. Initially it looked like he might dunk the ball, but he went for a layup instead. The 33-year-old man suddenly stopped and started holding her leg, which revealed the entire incident. He flashed a big smile as he walked back to the court and the bench did the same.

TJ McConnell got a flat tire on this transition layup attempt and feigned injury before leaving the Pacers bench, holding his hamstring. pic.twitter.com/HUT9sK6Xel

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 25 February 2026

The Pacers currently sit in last place in the Eastern Conference, but they are still managing to stay upbeat amid all the on-court misery. McConnell has over a decade of NBA experience and has been with Indiana since the 2019-20 season, so he presumably bears the responsibility of keeping locker-room morale at a satisfactory level. Leadership can take many forms, including self-deprecation.

Duquesne and Arizona’s untapped talent provided the Pacers with a good laugh, and laughter can be quite therapeutic when the team is stuck in the basement. The organization is willing to tolerate the losses until Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam and others recover, especially if it means landing a top-five pick in an vaunted draft class, but losing on a regular basis is sure to take a toll on players.

TJ McConnell is doing his part to keep the Pacers on the field. There are many layers to the tireless, high-motor playmaker, but first and foremost, he’s on the roster to bring energy. No. 9 certainly accomplished that mission with his “old-man” layup.

Portland Trail Blazers fans are accustomed to seeing Yang Hansen and Donovan Clingan working together to clog up the paint at Moda Center. However, Friday night’s NBA Rising Stars game forced the Twin Towers into a rare confrontation, which left Klingon on the wrong side of a viral moment.

The energy inside the building soared as the two giants faced off, turning a friendly exhibition into a massive battle for bragging rights in the locker room.

The highlight of the night came when Hansen was isolated against the Klingons at the top of the Keys. Hansen, China’s 7-foot-3 skilled center, gave a quick shoulder shimmy before selling a fake jump shot that completely fooled his teammates.

Teammate on teammate crime!

Yang Hansen fakes Donovan Clingan for inside bucket

pic.twitter.com/Gw4YBup6Lo

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 14 February 2026

Klingon made things a little more difficult to pass, moving to the perimeter while Hansen calmly slid past him to the rim. Henson finished the game with an easy bucket and a cheeky smile, and clearly enjoyed the chance to put his fellow rookie on the highlight reel.

Henson finished as the high-point man for Team Austin, scoring 10 points and one rebound while going 4 of 5 from the free-throw line. Team Melo ultimately won 65–60, but Henson’s offensive versatility was the talk of the field.

Clingan, on the other hand, proved why he is a defensive threat by recording 3 rebounds, although those defensive stats may not be enough to nullify the pump fake just yet.

The game reached its climax when Dylan Harper hit the game-winning shot over his brother Ron Harper Jr., but the Trail Blazers’ internal rivalry provided the most entertaining subplot of the evening.

Portland has invested heavily in its frontcourt, and seeing both players flourish on the national stage confirms that the franchise is moving in the right direction.