MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – DECEMBER 16: Benedict Mathurin #00 of the Indiana Pacers looks on against… [+] Minnesota Timberwolves in the second quarter at Target Center on December 16, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves beat the Pacers 127-109. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
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DETROIT – The Indiana Pacers lost guard Benedict Mathurin to injury late last season. The Pacers crushed the Dallas Mavericks in early March, and Mathurin had a solid performance. But he suffered a tear in his right shoulder — his injured shoulder — that night. He did not play again in 2023-24.
This kept the young football coach away from his team’s first winning campaign. He was also absent for the postseason, and Indiana made a run. They made it to the Eastern Conference Finals as Mathurin rehabilitated, and while the team had success, they missed Mathurin’s dynamic abilities.
“I guess [Mathurin] “I’ve seen what it takes to play the way we really want to play, and what it takes to have success in the playoffs,” Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan said a few weeks ago. He added that Mathurin took all that information and processed it during the postseason. “I think you’ll see a different side to him this year, and he’s really playing and adapting to the way we play.”
Mathurin is still blending his game with the unique way the Pacers operate. But he handles the ball low and can get to the rim easily and make plays in a slow environment. This is the composition of a player who can add value in the playoffs. The Pacers happened to play against two teams that Mathurin had beaten during the regular season in Milwaukee and New York.
Indiana found ways to win in two games, but a young ball coach was missing. He’s an emerging talent as a scorer and forward — the Pacers had to look elsewhere for those skills during the final two months of the 2023-24 season.
Wednesday night, Mathurin returned to action in Detroit. The Pacers opened the season against the Pistons, and it was Mathurin’s first game of consequence since March 5. It’s been 232 days since he last hit the hardwood.
The spectators couldn’t tell. The Arizona product looked as good as ever. Mathurin was outstanding in the fourth quarter and changed the complexion of the game with his ability to make shots and inject energy into the Pacers offense. Indiana trailed by eight with 10:38 left in the game, but they were able to pull out the win thanks to Mathurin. He didn’t miss a beat upon his return.
“Performance? I don’t really care, to be honest. I’m very happy we got the win,” Mathurin said when asked if he meant a strong outing in Detroit after so much time. That mentality is important, but the team wouldn’t have won without his play.
Indiana Pacers guard Benedict Mathurin (00) raises the ball up the court against the Detroit Pistons… [+] During the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
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Entering the fourth quarter, Mathurin had five points. Head coach Rick Carlisle said the young guard was pulled from the game after some tough defensive moments earlier in the second half. It was an unimpressive night for a 2022 lottery pick up to that point.
He owned the fourth quarter. Mathurin hit three foul shots in the opening minute, and his ability to get to the free throw line is part of what makes him so special. With the benefit of hindsight, perhaps that should have been a sign of special things to come.
Less than two minutes later, the 22-year-old fired another shot from the goal line. 19 seconds passed, then Jaden embarrassed Ivey with a backflip and drilled it. He had six points in about three minutes to open the fourth quarter, and the Pacers were now just two points behind.
And that was just the beginning. With seven minutes left, Mathurin buried another jumper to give Indiana the lead. That edge looked tenuous until the goaltender hit the key three with 2:55 remaining that extended his team’s advantage to four. Finally, the Pacers had some breathing room, and Mathurin created almost all of it.
“Game time,” Mathurin said when asked what changed for him in the final frame. “Just keeping the game simple. I know it’s the fourth quarter. We’ve got to make a run. I’ve got to get a different perspective on the game. That’s when I thrive.”
He would score two more points down the stretch as the Pacers erased a double-digit deficit for their first win of the season. Mathurin’s play late in the game made it all possible.
In the fourth quarter alone, the junior finished with 14 points, two rebounds and one assist. He played the entire frame, and Indiana outscored Detroit 33-19 in the period. Mathurin made nine free throws in the quarter — and his ability to get to the charity stripe has always been near elite.
Indiana Pacers guard Benedict Mathurin shot a shot past Detroit Pistons forward Ron… [+] Holland II, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
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“[Bennedict] Mathurin was fantastic in this match. “He has that attitude as a striker and as a scorer,” Carlisle said during the post-match press conference. “I think defensively, as the game went on, he got better.”
Mathurin finished with 19 points and six rebounds. Indiana almost certainly wouldn’t have gotten the victory without him. From now on, the main point is that the young guard reminded everyone exactly who he was.
Even on a night when Mathurin was out for some time, he could control the game with his attacking power. When the fight slows, he thrives. On an Indiana team that tries to play fast and keep the ball moving constantly, this change of pace can be valuable.
For Mathurin, the next step is consistency. He’s seen his team make the postseason without him, and it’s his job to fit into that system. Moving the ball, defending and making quick decisions will be key to achieving this.
However, he also has to blend those improvements with the talent that makes him a high-ceiling player. The third-year pro, who will be eligible for a wide-ranging contract extension next offseason, showed how he can do it on nights when the Pacers slow down for most of the game.
“Be myself. I’m working hard, I’ve been out for a minute. So the main thing for me is to get back into the team,” he said of what he focuses on when the game slows down and defenses sharpen on him. “I’m not trying to change people’s minds and say I’m back.” . I’m just making sure my teammates know I’m willing to do whatever it takes to win.
Mathurin certainly did that on Wednesday. The Indiana Pacers won 1-0, and their young point guard helped everyone remember exactly who he was to secure the win.
