Latest news with #BennedictMathurin
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bennedict Mathurin had one of his best games of the season in Game 3 of the NBA Finals
Bennedict Mathurin had one of his best games of the season in Game 3 of the NBA Finals originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Indiana Pacers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night, winning 116-107. Advertisement The Thunder were led by 26 points from Jalen Williams, and MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was held to only 24 inefficient points. OKC turned the ball over 17 times, allowing the Pacers to score quick points. Tyrese Haliburton took control in the third quarter, finishing with 22 points, nine rebounds, 11 assists, and two steals, although Indiana was led by Bennedict Mathurin, who set a playoff career-high with 27 points. The rest of the bench unit did solidly as well, and Mathurin credited the backups with "playing hard" and bringing energy. "I think having guys like TJ and Obi get in the game and Sheppard, just playing hard, playing hard," he said. "It's a group of guys who play extremely hard, and I think that's exactly what we needed, just to get the fans back on their feet, and everybody was cheering." Advertisement Gainbridge Fieldhouse was jumping from the start, and when the Pacers took a commanding enough lead to breathe, fans refused to leave their feet. Mathurin played excellently on both ends of the floor, and while he didn't rack up a steal, he played clean defense on SGA, limiting the damage. The Pacers will host the Thunder in Game 4 on Friday, and there is very real hope that Indiana can shock the world and take a 3-1 series lead against the best team in the NBA over the course of the regular season. Check out the All Pacers homepage for more news, analysis, and must-read articles. Related: Pacers Take Game 3 In a True Team Effort to Take Series Lead Related: How Pacers 'Stole' $1 Million from Rapper Jay-Z This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Indiana Pacers' Finals Hero Might Be Remembered for Blunders Instead
Indiana Pacers' Finals Hero Might Be Remembered for Blunders Instead originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Indiana Pacers lost Game 4 of the NBA Finals, falling to the Oklahoma City Thunder at home, 111-104. Advertisement The Pacers, as always, were well-rounded and enjoyed 20 points from Pascal Siakam. Indiana led for the entire third quarter and much of the fourth, although the Thunder gave them a taste of their own medicine, clawing back in the final minutes. In Game 3, Bennedict Mathurin led all scorers, with 27 points in just 22 minutes off the bench. He followed that masterclass up with only eight points in Game 4, and he made some critical mistakes down the stretch. In the final 30 seconds, he missed three free throws and fouled Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on an inbound pass, allowing the Thunder to add four points, taking a 108-103 lead in the final seconds, when the Pacers could have instead cut the gap, epcally with Tyrese Haliburton deflecting an inbound pass to start a fast break. After Game 3, there were calls for Mathurin to win Finals MVP, depending on how the series shakes out. However, with a bitter taste from Game 4 left in his mouth, how he is remembered will be determined by who wins the series. Advertisement After Game 3, he was a hero in Indiana, and if the Pacers manage to win the series in six or seven games, that will be the moment fans remember Mathurin for. However, if the series swings in the Thunder's favor and they manage to finish Indiana off, fans will remember Mathurin as someone who couldn't hit free throws when it mattered most. With the series evened up, the Pacers will travel to Oklahoma City for a must-win Game 5 on Monday night. Check out the All Pacers homepage for more news, analysis, and must-read articles. Related: How Pacers 'Stole' $1 Million from Rapper Jay-Z Related: OKC Thunder Even Up Series After Indiana Pacers Collapse This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
Indianapolis Star
4 days ago
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
NBA Finals Game 5: Thunder vs. Pacers start time, schedule, expert prediction, TV, stream, odds, stats
The Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder are back where they started in the best-of-seven NBA Finals with Game 5 set for Monday, June 16. Both teams have squandered a late lead at home and are tied 2-2. The Pacers led Game 4 late but struggled mightily in the closing 3 minutes as OKC won 111-104. Bennedict Mathurin, who was critical to Indiana's Game 3 victory, missed 3 free throws and committed 2 costly fouls during that stretch. Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton remain Indiana's key players. League MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander powered the Thunder's Game 4 comeback, scoring 11 points in the final 3 minutes as part of a 12-1 closing surge. He has averaged over 30 points per game in the series, while Jalen Williams is over 20. Indiana had averaged a +9 scoring advantage in fourth quarters of the first three games, but OKC won the 4th in Game 4, 31-17. Dustin Dopirak is your best Pacers follow, and get IndyStar's Pacers coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Pacers Update newsletter. Dustin Dopirak, IndyStar: Thunder 119-113 "The back-and-forth nature of this series suggests that home-court advantage doesn't mean much, but the Thunder lost just eight times at the Paycom Center this season, including twice in the playoffs. They haven't lost more than once at home in a calendar month since November. Winning there Monday would be a big lift for the Pacers, especially after the way Game 4 ended with their 17-point fourth quarter. They've generally responded well in tied series over the past two seasons, and they might have the conditioning edge, so this game is still very much a toss-up. But I think they will need to win Game 6 at home to force a Game 7." No time to pout: How the Pacers plan to keep Game 4's disappointment from costing them Game 5 'Unfair, unjust and stupid': Pacers' Rick Carlisle calls out criticism of official Scott Foster Game 5, Mon., June 16: Pacers at Thunder, 8:30 p.m. Pacers: Jarace Walker (ankle) and Isaiah Jackson (Achilles) are out. Thunder: None. TV: ABC, with Mike Breen (play-by-play), Doris Burke and Richard Jefferson (analysis), and Lisa Salters (sideline reporting) Watch with a Fubo trial 93.5 and 107.5 FM in Indianapolis, with Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analysis) and Pat Boylan (sideline reporting). Game 1 streaming is on SiriusXM channels 81 and 86 (Thunder feed). (*-if necessary; all games are ET and on ABC) Get IndyStar's book celebrating the Pacers' playoff run via BetMGM Game 5 favorite: Thunder by 9.5 points Over/under: 223.5 total points Moneyline: Pacers +333, Thunder -450 ESPN's matchup predictor gives the Thunder a 60.9% chance of winning.
Indianapolis Star
4 days ago
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
NBA Finals Game 5: Thunder vs. Pacers start time, schedule, expert prediction, TV, stream, odds, stats
The Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder are back where they started in the best-of-seven NBA Finals with Game 5 set for Monday, June 16. Both teams have squandered a late lead at home and are tied 2-2. The Pacers led Game 4 late but struggled mightily in the closing 3 minutes as OKC won 111-104. Bennedict Mathurin, who was critical to Indiana's Game 3 victory, missed 3 free throws and committed 2 costly fouls during that stretch. Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton remain Indiana's key players. League MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander powered the Thunder's Game 4 comeback, scoring 11 points in the final 3 minutes as part of a 12-1 closing surge. He has averaged over 30 points per game in the series, while Jalen Williams is over 20. Indiana had averaged a +9 scoring advantage in fourth quarters of the first three games, but OKC won the 4th in Game 4, 31-17. Dustin Dopirak is your best Pacers follow, and get IndyStar's Pacers coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Pacers Update newsletter. Dustin Dopirak, IndyStar: Thunder 119-113 "The back-and-forth nature of this series suggests that home-court advantage doesn't mean much, but the Thunder lost just eight times at the Paycom Center this season, including twice in the playoffs. They haven't lost more than once at home in a calendar month since November. Winning there Monday would be a big lift for the Pacers, especially after the way Game 4 ended with their 17-point fourth quarter. They've generally responded well in tied series over the past two seasons, and they might have the conditioning edge, so this game is still very much a toss-up. But I think they will need to win Game 6 at home to force a Game 7." No time to pout: How the Pacers plan to keep Game 4's disappointment from costing them Game 5 'Unfair, unjust and stupid': Pacers' Rick Carlisle calls out criticism of official Scott Foster Game 5, Mon., June 16: Pacers at Thunder, 8:30 p.m. Pacers: Jarace Walker (ankle) and Isaiah Jackson (Achilles) are out. Thunder: None. TV: ABC, with Mike Breen (play-by-play), Doris Burke and Richard Jefferson (analysis), and Lisa Salters (sideline reporting) Watch with a Fubo trial 93.5 and 107.5 FM in Indianapolis, with Mark Boyle (play-by-play), Eddie Gill (analysis) and Pat Boylan (sideline reporting). Game 1 streaming is on SiriusXM channels 81 and 86 (Thunder feed). (*-if necessary; all games are ET and on ABC) Get IndyStar's book celebrating the Pacers' playoff run via BetMGM Game 5 favorite: Thunder by 9.5 points Over/under: 223.5 total points Moneyline: Pacers +333, Thunder -450 ESPN's matchup predictor gives the Thunder a 60.9% chance of winning.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
How 2025 NBA Finals became Canadian showcase with OKC's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, others
Follow The Oklahoman's live coverage of Thunder vs. Pacers in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. INDIANAPOLIS — These NBA Finals have reunited two pairs of Canadian guards who were tied together long before they arrived on opposite sides of basketball's biggest stage. Advertisement Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort for the Thunder, and Andrew Nembhard and Bennedict Mathurin for the Pacers. SGA and Nembhard from Ontario, Dort and Mathurin from the same neighborhood in Montreal. The NBA Finals — a showcase of sorts for Canadian basketball — resumes Wednesday night in Indianapolis. The series is tied 1-1. 'Obviously, we represent our teams here,' Dort said, 'but at the end of the day, we represent our country as well. It's going to be really fun. They should enjoy it.' More: Isaiah Hartenstein's impact on NBA Finals still large even amid Thunder lineup changes Dort, Mathurin representing Montreal Lu Dort and Bennedict Mathurin grew up in the same neighborhood in Montreal. They share Haitian roots. They both played one year of college ball in the state of Arizona. Advertisement From there, their paths diverged. Dort, who went undrafted out of Arizona State, signed a two-way contract with the Thunder in the summer of 2019. Mathurin, after a standout season at Arizona, was picked sixth by the Pacers in the 2022 NBA Draft. A score-first, hyper-aggressive guard, Mathurin is still finding his footing with the Pacers. He averaged 16.1 points per game this season on 46% shooting. His 5.3 rebounds per game were a career high. Dort, meanwhile, has become an all-world defender and a clutch 3-point shooter in Oklahoma City. Dort and Gilgeous-Alexander are pillars of the Thunder's rebuild — the only remaining players from the Thunder's 2019-20 playoff team. Advertisement When Mathurin was drafted, Dort was there in Brooklyn to support his friend from Montreal Nord — the hardscrabble area where they grew up. 'That's a good friend of mine,' Dort said of Mathurin. 'Like a brother, honestly. I'm really happy for what he's been doing throughout his career. Now we are at this point where we've got to compete against each other. It'll be really fun.' Added Mathurin: 'I think it's a great thing. I think it's a great opportunity for me, Lu, the whole Montreal city. I think it's a great step in the right direction just to be able to go against each other.' Mathurin also used the word 'brother' to describe his relationship with Dort. But the niceties ended there. Advertisement 'Lu's a great friend of mine … but we're enemies,' Mathurin said. More: NBA Finals heads to Indiana tied 1-1: What we've learned about Thunder-Pacers so far Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) fights for control of the ball with Indiana guard Andrew Nembhard (2) in the third quarter during game 2 of the NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers at Paycom Center Oklahoma City, on Sunday, June 8, 2025. SGA, Nembhard go way back Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Andrew Nembhard first played against each other when they were kids. Gilgeous-Alexander was 9. Nembhard was 7. And the biggest thing they were competing for in those youth tournaments was a good time. 'It was just fun,' Nembhard said. 'We were just little kids having fun and enjoying hoops.' Gilgeous-Alexander and Nembhard grew even closer throughout the years. They played together for Team Canada last summer in the Paris Olympics, and Nembhard is one of only two non-Thunder players who have worn Gilgeous-Alexander's unreleased signature sneakers in a game this season. Advertisement But he isn't wearing them in the Finals. The two Canadians have mostly guarded each other so far, and camaraderie was left at customs. That became clear in Game 1 when Gilgeous-Alexander drew a foul on Nembhard midway through the fourth quarter. He then gave the Pacers guard a light shove before he walked away. Nembhard immediately walked over to an official to plead his case, and he purposely bumped into Gilgeous-Alexander in the process. Gilgeous-Alexander paid no mind to the not-so-subtle jab. That's to be expected when fighting for a championship. 'He's a competitor,' Gilgeous-Alexander said of Nembhard. 'He's a winner. He plays the game the right way on both ends of the floor. Really good player.' Advertisement Indiana ultimately won Game 1. The Pacers erased a 15-point deficit to steal the win, and Nembhard drilled a stepback 3-pointer over Gilgeous-Alexander down the stretch. But OKC evened the series with a Game 2 win, and Gilgeous-Alexander erupted for 34 points. Plenty of those buckets came at Nembhard's expense. This series has been a back-and-forth battle between two of Canada's brightest stars. And while the setting is now shifting to Indianapolis, don't expect a change in sentiment between the fierce competitors. The real fun is just getting started. More: OKC fans ready to travel to Game 3 of NBA Finals: 'I'm going to go and fight the good fight' Advertisement Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: How 2025 NBA Finals became Canadian showcase for OKC Thunder, Pacers
