Latest news with #Mathurin
Yahoo
5 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.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
NBA Trade Rumors: Dallas Mavericks might sign $29,936,173 Indiana Pacers to bolster squad; Myles Turner key trade asset?
Indiana Pacers' Myles Turner gets new injury update ahead of highly anticipated Game 3 against OKC Thunder (Image Source: Getty) The Indiana Pacers face a crucial offseason decision regarding veteran center Myles Turner, whose inconsistent playoff performances have sparked speculation about his future. Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks could capitalize on this uncertainty by offering a rising star in exchange for young talent. Myles Turner's Uncertain Future with the Pacers Myles Turner, a key piece for Indiana , has shown flashes of elite play but struggled in critical moments. His Game 4 performance against the Oklahoma City Thunder highlighted these inconsistencies: - 12 points on 3-10 shooting - 0-6 from three-point range - Just 2 rebounds and 2 assists While the Pacers are expected to retain the 29-year-old, a Finals loss could prompt them to explore trades. The Proposed Trade: Lively for Mathurin Anthony Davis in Dallas Mavericks (Image credit: Getty Images) A Bleacher Report proposal suggests a swap sending Dallas Mavericks center Dereck Lively II to Indiana in exchange for Pacers wing Bennedict Mathurin. Why the Pacers Would Do It Lively, despite playing only 36 games due to injury, proved vital in Dallas' Finals run. His skill set addresses several Pacers needs: - Elite mobility for a 7-footer - Strong offensive rebounding and lob-catching - Improved passing (93rd percentile in assist-to-usage ratio among bigs) As analyst Grant Hughes noted : "Dereck Lively II... would be a major upgrade as an offensive rebounder, lob-catcher and shot-blocker over anything the Pacers currently have." (H/t: Sporting News ) Why the Dallas Mavericks Would Do It Dallas, in win-now mode, could use Mathurin's scoring potential alongside future No. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo 1 pick Cooper Flagg. Mathurin has shown flashes of being a dynamic offensive weapon, fitting the Dallas Mavericks' need for young, high-upside talent. Key Trade Details Dallas Mavericks Receive Indiana Pacers Receive Bennedict Mathurin (SG/SF) Dereck Lively II (C) Potential Impact for Both Teams For Indiana: - Replaces Turner with a younger, more versatile center - Adds defensive upside and offensive efficiency For Dallas: - Gains a promising scorer to develop alongside Flagg - Maintains flexibility for future moves The trade hinges on Turner's postseason outcome and Indiana's willingness to pivot. For the Dallas Mavericks, acquiring Mathurin would signal a commitment to balancing immediate contention with long-term growth. Also read: NBA Trade Rumors: Los Angeles Lakers might sign $50 million Milwaukee Bucks star to bolster squad around Luka-LeBron power duo As the NBA offseason unfolds, this proposal could gain traction if either team seeks a shake-up.
Kuwait Times
7 days ago
- Sport
- Kuwait Times
Pacers silence Thunder to take 2-1 NBA Finals lead
Resilient Mathurin stars in Pacers' victory LOS ANGELES: The Indiana Pacers, fueled by a near triple-double from Tyrese Haliburton, out-dueled the Oklahoma City Thunder 116-107 on Wednesday to take a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals. Haliburton scored 22 points with nine rebounds and 11 assists to spearhead a tremendous collective effort that included a career playoff high 27 points from reserve Bennedict Mathurin. The Pacers bench out-scored Oklahoma City's reserves 49-18 and Indiana wore down NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, whose 24 points included just three in the fourth quarter. 'So many different guys chipped in,' Haliburton told broadcaster ABC. 'Ben Mathurin was amazing off the bench tonight. He just stuck with it. We just had guys make plays after plays.' Pascal Siakam scored 21 points for Indiana and TJ McConnell added 10 points and five steals off the bench to help the Pacers improve to 10-0 since March 11 in games immediately after a defeat. They'll try to stretch their lead in the best-of-seven championship series when they host game four on Friday before the series heads back to Oklahoma City for game five on Monday. Pacers coach Rick Carlisle lauded the contributions of Mathurin and McConnell. 'Those guys were tremendous,' Carlisle said. 'TJ just brought a will, competitive will, to the game. Mathurin jumped in there and immediately was aggressive and got the ball in the basket. 'This is the kind of team that we are,' Carlisle added. 'It's not always going to be exactly the same guys that are stepping up with scoring and stuff like that. But this is how we've got to do it, and we got to do it as a team.' Added Mathurin: 'The main thing is you have to be resilient. You have to be the aggressor in order to win games.' The Pacers, down by five going into the fourth quarter, took the lead for good on a three-pointer by Haliburton with 6:42 remaining. Obi Toppin threw down a dunk that made it 107-100 then blocked a Jalen Williams layup as the Pacers gained control in a game that was close throughout. The Thunder struck early to quiet the enthusiastic crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, seizing a 15-6 lead in less than five minutes. The Pacers closed within two points on a three-pointer from Haliburton but the Thunder responded and led by eight at the end of the first quarter. Quality possessions Indiana fans, who haven't seen their team in the Finals since the Pacers fell to the Lakers in the 2000 title series, weren't disappointed for long as a second-half surge fueled by Indiana's reserves saw the Pacers seize the lead. McConnell made a pair of free-throws to put the Pacers up 37-36 and when Mathurin made a running layup to make it 46-42 Indiana had their biggest lead of the series. They stretched the lead to seven points only for Oklahoma City to tie it up at 51-51. It was knotted at 55-55 when Haliburton drilled a three-pointer and McConnell's fadeaway jump shot sent Indiana into halftime with a 64-60 lead. The back-and-forth battle continued in the third, Oklahoma City opening the second half on an 8-0 run, only for the Pacers to charge back. After five more lead changes the Thunder took an 89-84 lead into the final period, but they couldn't bring it home. Williams finished with 26 points and Chet Holmgren added 20 points and 10 rebounds for Oklahoma City, but the Thunder coughed up 19 turnovers leading to 21 Pacers points. 'In the fourth quarter, I just thought they really outplayed us on both ends,' Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said afterwards. 'I thought they were in character in terms of their physicality, their pressure on defense. Then they were in character in terms of their pace on offense. They just stacked way more quality possessions in the fourth quarter than we did.'- AFP
Indianapolis Star
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
'Knock them down next time.' Bennedict Mathurin missed free throws part of Pacers' sputtering finish
INDIANAPOLIS – By the time Bennedict Mathurin stepped to the free-throw line with 24 seconds remaining, Gainbridge Fieldhouse had gone mostly quiet. The Pacers were sputtering and spitting to the finish line, the offense scoreless for three minutes as Oklahoma City took a four-point lead and — stunningly — command of Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday night. But Mathurin stood at the free-throw line with a chance to cut that four-point lead in half and give this crazy, cardiac Pacers team a chance for another thrilling comeback. He missed both, helping to slam the door on Oklahoma City's 111-104 victory. A few seconds later, with the Pacers trailing by five, Mathurin missed another free throw after a steal on the inbounds play. He made the second, but those three misses were surprising considering Mathurin is an 83% free-throw shooter on the season and had been shooting 89% during the playoffs. 'It's very tough,' Mathurin said. 'I've made those free throws, and I love making tough free throws. The only thing I can do is to knock them down next time.' It was hardly the only thing that went wrong for the Pacers down the stretch. But it was one more dagger in a disastrous final 3:20 for the Pacers, which appeared poised to hold off the Thunder after Tyrese Haliburton's finger roll layup put Indiana ahead 103-99. From that point forward, Oklahoma City was 7-for-8 from the free-throw line. The Pacers were 1-for-4. For the game, the Thunder were 34-for-38 to 25-for-33 for the Pacers. 'They had 38 free throws, and that was a problem,' Pacers' coach Rick Carlisle said. 'They made 34 out of 38. We had 33 and made 25. They missed four. We missed eight. The difference of four is significant.'
Indianapolis Star
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
'Knock them down next time.' Bennedict Mathurin missed free throws part of Pacers' sputtering finish
INDIANAPOLIS – By the time Bennedict Mathurin stepped to the free-throw line with 24 seconds remaining, Gainbridge Fieldhouse had gone mostly quiet. The Pacers were sputtering and spitting to the finish line, the offense scoreless for three minutes as Oklahoma City took a four-point lead and — stunningly — command of Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday night. But Mathurin stood at the free-throw line with a chance to cut that four-point lead in half and give this crazy, cardiac Pacers team a chance for another thrilling comeback. He missed both, helping to slam the door on Oklahoma City's 111-104 victory. A few seconds later, with the Pacers trailing by five, Mathurin missed another free throw after a steal on the inbounds play. He made the second, but those three misses were surprising considering Mathurin is an 83% free-throw shooter on the season and had been shooting 89% during the playoffs. 'It's very tough,' Mathurin said. 'I've made those free throws, and I love making tough free throws. The only thing I can do is to knock them down next time.' It was hardly the only thing that went wrong for the Pacers down the stretch. But it was one more dagger in a disastrous final 3:20 for the Pacers, which appeared poised to hold off the Thunder after Tyrese Haliburton's finger roll layup put Indiana ahead 103-99. From that point forward, Oklahoma City was 7-for-8 from the free-throw line. The Pacers were 1-for-4. For the game, the Thunder were 34-for-38 to 25-for-33 for the Pacers. 'They had 38 free throws, and that was a problem,' Pacers' coach Rick Carlisle said. 'They made 34 out of 38. We had 33 and made 25. They missed four. We missed eight. The difference of four is significant.'
