Bennedict Mathurin's Ejection Ignites Pacers-Cavaliers Showdown

Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin was thrown out of the game during the first quarter of their Game 4 clash against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night. His ejection came after he instigated a scuffle with De’Andre Hunter.

Towards the end of the first quarter, with the Pacers holding a 22-10 lead at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Mathurin made contact with Hunter’s chest, causing Hunter to momentarily bend over in the paint.

Mathurin then backtracked to the 3-point line with Hunter in pursuit. Mathurin seemed to provoke Hunter by spreading his arms out, leading Hunter to forcefully shove him to the ground. This triggered a significant fracas and prompted a lengthy review by the officials once the dust settled.

Ultimately, Mathurin was charged with a Flagrant 2 foul resulting in his ejection from the game. Despite Hunter’s more aggressive retaliation, he only received a technical foul. Myles Turner was penalized with a technical foul as well.

Despite Mathurin’s absence, the Pacers maintained their momentum in the first quarter. They surged to a 38-23 advantage, partly due to an impressive defensive effort that stymied Cleveland for over five minutes without a field goal. The Pacers excelled by hitting 6 out of 10 shots from beyond the arc in the initial 12 minutes while restricting the Cavaliers to just 4-of-15 from the floor.

Coming into Sunday’s game, the Pacers were leading the series 2-1 and aimed to secure their second consecutive trip to the Eastern Conference finals.

Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.