INDIANAPOLIS – During the opening quarter of Sunday’s Game 4, a significant altercation led to the ejection of Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin. The incident occurred when Mathurin struck Cleveland Cavaliers’ De’Andre Hunter in the chest with a closed fist. Despite losing one of their primary scorers early, the Pacers delivered a dominant performance, matching an NBA playoff record by building a 41-point lead at halftime. Ultimately, they cruised past the Cavaliers with a resounding 129-109 victory, securing a 3-1 advantage in the Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Video replays captured the moment Mathurin extended his fist toward Hunter. In response, Hunter waved a finger at Mathurin and confronted him at midcourt, forcefully shoving him to the floor. This altercation prompted Pacers center Myles Turner to cross the court and collide with Hunter. After reviewing the incident, officials assessed a flagrant 2 foul against Mathurin, leading to an automatic ejection. The Pacers’ fans were displeased, voicing their disapproval with boos. Both Turner and Hunter received technical fouls for their part in the incident.
Reflecting on the situation, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle remarked, “I had a lot of questions about it. I saw one still shot where it looked he had his hand flat, you know? But they have a lot of different views. Whatever happened, happened. He’ll accept the ejection and whatever else happens from it. We’ve just got to move forward.”
With this victory, the Pacers are in a strong position to conclude the series and secure their spot in the conference finals for the second consecutive year. They can close out the series on Tuesday in Cleveland, where they have already won the first two games.
Mathurin’s time on the court was brief, lasting only 80 seconds with no points scored. In contrast, Hunter, who had been sidelined during Game 2 due to a wrist injury, contributed five points and secured four rebounds. Meanwhile, Myles Turner demonstrated his shooting prowess by successfully converting all four of his three-point attempts, concluding the game with 20 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.