Four minutes from the end of the first quarter, the Pacers are in attack. Andrew Nembhard Receives the ball in the right corner of the field, but the fact of playing this action takes place on the other side.
While Bennedict Mathurin try to stand out and that it is well defended by De'Andre Hunter, The pacers player puts a blow in the chest of the Cleveland winger. The referees whistle an offensive fault, but this gesture does not like at all at the old of Atlanta, who pushes Benédict Mathurin, sending him to the ground.
Spirits heat up while the referees will review the action to decide the sanctions to be applied. To start, Bennedict Mathurin received a blatant fault 2, synonymous with exclusion, but while we could expect the to the same fate, he finally gets out with a simple technical fault in the same way as Myles Turnercome to hold the Cavs winger.
“It's part of learning“, comments the pacers coachRick Carlisle, after the meeting. “” The playoff series are physical, tense and sometimes personal. We must remain far from what prevents us from playing at our best level. »»
A closed fist affair
The chief referee of the meeting, John Goble, was questioned after the meeting To explain the difference in sanction between the two players. According to him, Bennedict Mathurin struck the Hunter with his closed fist. According to the arbitrator, this act was not necessary, but above all, it was excessive, which justifies his expulsion. As for D'Andre Hunter, he adds that the winger pushed his Indiana counterpart with both hands open.
This is where the difference is played out. On the one hand, John Goble sees Benédict Mathurin reaching andre Hunter with his fist while, on the second part of the action, the Cleveland player “simply” pushed that of the Pacers and in the eyes of the referee, a technical fault is sufficient in this case.
Anyway, this fact of play did not prevent Indiana from beating Cleveland quite largely (129 to 109) to lead 3-1 in this series.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvqel2a8lpe
| Bennedict Mathurin | Percentage | Rebound | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | Lf | Off | Def | Early | PD | Fte | Int | COP | Ct | Pts |
| 2022-23 | Ind | 78 | 29 | 43.4 | 32.3 | 82.8 | 1.1 | 3.0 | 4.1 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 16.7 |
| 2023-24 | Ind | 59 | 26 | 44.6 | 37.4 | 82.1 | 1.0 | 2.9 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 0.2 | 14.5 |
| 2024-25 | Ind | 72 | 30 | 45.8 | 34.0 | 83.1 | 1.2 | 4.1 | 5.3 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 0.3 | 16.1 |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = minutes; Shots = successful shots / tempted shots; 3pts = 3-point / 3-point attempted; LF = Successful free throws / tempted free throws; Off = offensive rebound; Def = defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; PD = assists; FTE: Personal faults; Int = interceptions; BP = lost bullets; CT: against; Pts = points.
