Mathurin logged 26 points (6-13 FG, 2-3 3Pt, 12-13 FT), three rebounds, six assists and one block over 37 minutes during Sunday's 141-136 win over the Knicks.
The 20-year-old wrapped up his first NBA campaign in style, leading the Pacers in scoring in the regular-season finale as he scored at least 15 points in a seventh straight game. While Indiana fell short of the playoffs, the Pacers' young backcourt duo of Tyrese Haliburton and Mathurin could have them back in contention in 2023-24.
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Pacers' Bennedict Mathurin: Struggles to knock down shots
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Mathurin closed Wednesday's 138-129 loss to the Knicks with 17 points (6-17 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 4-6 FT), eight rebounds and four assists over 32 minutes.
Mathurin has started nine straight games, as the Pacers are resting key players to end the season. The rookie has reached double digits in seven of those nine games, but his efficiency fluctuates. Wednesday was a poor shooting day, as he missed a team-high 11 shots. However, Mathurin posted four assists for the first time in 14 games and grabbed eight rebounds. Mathurin isn't likely to help out in multiple categories, but with the Pacers needing someone to score, he could be in line for big games to close out the season.
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Pacers' Bennedict Mathurin: Makes rare blocks contribution
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Mathurin finished Sunday's 115-105 loss to the Cavaliers with 19 points (5-12 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 8-8 FT), nine rebounds and two blocks in 33 minutes.
As has often been the case during his rookie season when he's played extended minutes, Mathurin delivered a strong scoring total highlighted by excellent free-throw shooting. His contributions are typically more limited in just about every other area of the box score, but Mathurin delivered more than usual in both the rebounds and blocks categories. The two rejections are particularly noteworthy, as Mathurin had just 10 total blocks in his previous 74 appearances on the season.
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Pacers' Bennedict Mathurin: Pours in 29 in loss
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Mathurin closed Wednesday's 149-136 loss to the Bucks with 29 points (11-21 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 6-9 FT), nine rebounds, two assists and two steals across 41 minutes.
With each of the Pacers' top three players (Myles Turner, Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield) sitting out with injuries or illnesses, Mathurin once again took on heavy minutes and served as the centerpiece of the offense. He's now put up 55 points on 50 percent shooting from the field and 75 percent shooting from the free-throw line over the Pacers' past two games, and he supplemented the offensive output Wednesday with solid numbers in the rebounds and steals categories. Considering he's averaging 4.0 boards and 0.6 steals per game on the season, Mathurin can't be counted on to regularly contribute in either area, but he should be a strong source of points down the stretch with the likelihood that all of Turner, Haliburton and Hield continue to miss more time.
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Pacers' Bennedict Mathurin: Puts up 26 points in loss
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Mathurin ended Monday's 127-104 loss to the Mavericks with 26 points (9-19 FG, 2-8 3Pt, 6-7 FT), four rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal across 38 minutes.
Mathurin was one of the few bright spots in Indiana's blowout loss, as the rookie was the lone Pacers player to clear 20 points. With all of Tyrese Haliburton (ankle), Buddy Hield (illness) and Myles Turner (back) sitting out, Mathurin got all the usage he could handle, and he could continue to see more offensive responsibility down the stretch. The Pacers currently sit 3.5 games behind the Bulls for the final spot in the Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament, meaning all of Haliburton, Hield and Turner could be candidates to miss more time over the final two weeks if Indiana decides to pack it in for the season.
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Pacers' Bennedict Mathurin: Offers little in loss
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Mathurin contributed four points (2-4 FG, 0-1 3Pt), two rebounds, one assist and one steal in 24 minutes during Saturday's 143-130 loss to the Hawks.
Outside of Chris Duarte, Mathurin was the only other Pacer not to score in double digits Saturday. Despite rolling with the opening unit, Mathurin was barely visible, turning in another underwhelming performance. He continues to play through an ongoing ankle injury, and perhaps sitting out Saturday would have been a better option. He remains a viable asset, even in 12-team formats, although we saw here that when his shot isn't falling, he has very little else to fall back on.
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Pacers' Bennedict Mathurin: Good to go Saturday
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Mathurin (rest) is cleared to play in Saturday's clash at Atlanta.
After a poor two-point outing against the Celtics on Friday, there was a chance the rookie would rest his sore ankle. However, Mathurin will give it a go Saturday in hopes to bounce back.
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Pacers' Bennedict Mathurin: Expected to play
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Mathurin (rest) is expected to play in Saturday's game against the Hawks, Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star reports.
There was a chance the rookie would rest his ankle during the second game of the back-to-back set, but he'll likely see the floor. Mathurin's coming off a terrible performance in Friday's loss to the Celtics, where he posted just two points, two assists and one rebound in 25 minutes.
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Pacers' Bennedict Mathurin: Questionable at Atlanta
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Mathurin is questionable for Saturday's tilt against the Hawks due to right ankle sprain injury management.
Mathurin struggled during Friday's loss to the Celtics, posting just two points, two assists and one rebound in 25 minutes. He could rest on the second night of the back-to-back along with Tyrese Haliburton (rest), Chris Duarte (ankle) and Myles Turner (back), who are also all questionable.
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Pacers' Bennedict Mathurin: Efficient in return
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Mathurin (ankle) amassed 18 points (7-10 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 3-4 FT), three rebounds, two assists and one steal in 30 minutes during Monday's 115-109 loss to the Hornets.
Head coach Rick Carlisle inserted Mathurin in the starting five after missing the Pacers' previous four games, and the rookie didn't exhibit any rust while taking on a healthy minutes load. The Pacers are running low on bodies with Tyrese Haliburton (knee) and Chris Duarte (ankle) having both missed multiple games, so Mathurin looks as though he could be in store for an expanded role on offense in the contests to come now that he's moved past his own injury.
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Pacers' Bennedict Mathurin: Will start Monday
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Mathurin (ankle) will start Monday's game against the Hornets.
Mathurin will slide right into the starting lineup during his first appearance following a four-game absence due to an ankle injury. The rookie first-round pick has drawn only six previous starts this season, averaging 14.5 points and 4.2 rebounds in 28.8 minutes during those contests. In a corresponding move, Jordan Nwora will shift to a bench role.
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Pacers' Bennedict Mathurin: Cleared for action
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Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said Mathurin (ankle) will play Monday against the Hornets, Sam Perley of the Hornets' official site reports.
Mathurin participated in the team's morning shootaround and has been cleared to return following a four-game absence due to an ankle injury. It's unclear how many minutes he'll play in his first game since March 9, but his presence will likely mean fewer minutes for Jordan Nwora. Before his injury, Mathurin had scored in double figures in eight of his previous 10 appearances, averaging 15.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.1 steals-plus-blocks in 28.3 minutes during that stretch.
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Pacers' Bennedict Mathurin: Participates in shootaround
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Mathurin (ankle) remains questionable for Monday's game against in Charlotte, but he participated in Indiana's morning shootaround, Jeremiah Johnson of Bally Sports Indiana reports.
Mathurin is certainly trending in the right direction and could return to action following a four-game absence, but his official availability likely won't be known until closer to the 7:00 p.m. ET tipoff. His potential return would likely impact Jordan Nwora's minutes.
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Pacers' Bennedict Mathurin: Questionable Monday
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Mathurin (ankle) is questionable for Monday's game in Charlotte.
Mathurin has missed the past four games, but this is the first time he's been hit with the questionable tag, which suggests he's getting close. If the rookie is able to return, Jordan Nwora's minutes would likely dip.
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Pacers' Bennedict Mathurin: Ruled out Thursday
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Mathurin (ankle) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Bucks, Tony East of SI.com reports.
Mathurin will miss a third consecutive game and doesn't yet have a clear timetable to return, but coach Rick Carlisle said Thursday that the 20-year-old is doing better and could travel with the Pacers for their road trip next week. Chris Duarte and Andrew Nembhard will likely see increased roles once again Thursday.
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Pacers' Bennedict Mathurin: Likely to sit Thursday
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Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said Monday that Mathurin (ankle) is "making some real positive strides with his rehab," but the coach declined to offer a timeline for the rookie to rejoin the lineup, Tony East of SI.com reports. "The hope is that he won't be out for long," Carlisle added.
Mathurin missed his second straight game in Monday's 117-97 loss to the Pistons while he recovers from the right ankle sprain he sustained in last Thursday's win over Houston. Given that Mathurin didn't make the trip with the Pacers to Detroit on Monday, he appears unlikely to be available for the final game of the road trip Thursday in Milwaukee. However, the Pacers have yet to provide an official update on his status for that contest.
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Pacers' Bennedict Mathurin: Out again Monday
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Mathurin (ankle) has been ruled out for Monday's matchup against the Pistons.
Mathurin will miss back-to-back games due to a right ankle sprain. It's unclear when he'll be able to suit up again, but his next chance to do so will arrive Thursday in Milwaukee. In his absence, Chris Duarte and Andrew Nembhard are candidates for increased roles.
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Pacers' Bennedict Mathurin: Ruled out Saturday
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Mathurin (ankle) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against Detroit.
Mathurin suffered a right ankle sprain early in Thursday's game against the Rockets and will officially miss one additional matchup. Coach Rick Carlisle also said Thursday that he doesn't expect Mathurin to play Monday against the Pistons. Chris Duarte and Andrew Nembhard are candidates to see increased run during Saturday's matchup.
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Pacers' Bennedict Mathurin: Likely to miss two Detroit games
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Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said after Thursday's 134-125 loss to the Rockets that he's not expecting Mathurin (ankle) to be available Saturday or Monday in Detroit, Scott Agness of FieldhouseFiles.com reports.
Carlisle didn't provide much clarity regarding the severity of the sprained right ankle Mathurin sustained early in Thursday's contest, but the rookie wing looks as though he'll miss at least a couple of games. Assuming Mathurin ends up sitting out the Detroit series, Andrew Nembhard, Chris Duarte and T.J. McConnell could all be in store for expanded playing time.
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Pacers' Bennedict Mathurin: Will not return
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Mathurin (ankle) has been ruled out for the remainder of Thursday's game against the Rockets.
Mathurin was carried to the locker room in the first quarter after turning his right ankle on a drive to the basket and was initially ruled questionable to return prior to being ruled out for the contest. He finished without recording any statistics in his three minutes of play. T.J. McConnell and Chris Duarte should see more minutes off the bench for the rest of Thursday's game. Mathurin will have a chance to suit up Saturday in Detroit.
