Skip to content

LEAGUES News

Pacers' Mathurin ejected in Game 4 win for striking Hunter

Joe Murphy / National Basketball Association / Getty

Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin was ejected in the first quarter of Sunday's 129-109 Game 4 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers for striking De'Andre Hunter in the sternum with a closed fist.

Hunter responded by shoving Mathurin after a stoppage in play and was subsequently assessed a technical foul. Pacers center Myles Turner was also given a technical for pushing Hunter.

"During review, it was observed that Hunter pushed Mathurin with two hands. That dead ball act was deemed to be (an) unsportsmanlike act and (a) technical foul was assessed for that action," crew chief John Goble told The Indianapolis Star's Dustin Dopirak in the postgame pool report interview.

"Turner was then also observed bumping Turner, and that dead ball act was also deemed to be (an) unsportsmanlike act and a technical foul was assessed."

Mathurin played just one minute, recording a single rebound. Hunter recorded five points and two rebounds in the first quarter.

In seven playoff games this season, Mathurin has averaged 13.4 points and 2.7 rebounds in 20.3 minutes of action. The 22-year-old missed the Pacers' 2024 run to the Eastern Conference finals due to a torn labrum in his shoulder.

Indiana selected Mathurin with the eighth pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.

The Pacers hold a 3-1 series lead and can book a second straight East finals appearance with a victory Tuesday in Cleveland.

RELATED NEWS

VJ Edgecombe in his #NBA2KSummerLeague debut: 🔔 15 PTS 🔔 ...
No. 3 pick Edgecombe inefficient but scores 15 in return from thumb sprain
407 feet off the bat of Brent Rooker! #AllStarGame
A's Rooker gets AL on the board with 3-run HR off Giants' Rodríguez 💣
POLAR BEAR GOES YARD IN ATLANTA!
Alonso gets Atlanta on his side for once with 3-run HR to break All-Star Game open 🐻‍❄️
Freddie Freeman gets a standing ovation in Atlanta as he exi...
Freeman exits All-Star Game to nice ovation from Braves fans 👏
Clayton Kershaw exits at the #AllStarGame 👏
Kershaw lifted from potential final ASG to standing ovation from fans, teammates 🫡
GAS. Skenes with back-to-back Ks to start this All-Star Gam...
Skenes opens 95th All-Star Game with consecutive Ks ⛽️
Welcome back to Atlanta, Freddie Freeman! 👏 📺: FOX
Freeman gets emotional after loud ovation in All-Star return to Atlanta 🥹
😅 @Braves fans with a "warm" welcome to the Mets and Philli...
Braves fans boo Mets, Phillies All-Stars during intros 😂
RELEASE: Blackhawks Sign Anton Frondell to Three-Year, Entry...