NBA playoffs: Refs eject Pacers’ Bennedict Mathurin after incident
The tension between Cleveland Cavaliers forward De’Andre Hunter and Indiana Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin reached a boiling point during their Game 4 playoff matchup on Sunday night. The incident occurred with 4:32 left in the first quarter as the Pacers surged to a 12-point lead. Hunter was caught on camera shoving Mathurin to the ground, prompting Pacers star Myles Turner to step in and defend his teammate.
Replays of the altercation revealed that Mathurin had initially struck Hunter in the midsection as the Pacers were preparing to inbound the ball. Hunter retaliated by pushing Mathurin to the floor. Following a review, officials assessed a Flagrant II foul to Mathurin and handed out technical fouls to both Hunter and Turner.
This was not the first time Hunter and Mathurin clashed during the series. In Game 1, Mathurin challenged Hunter at the rim during a dunk, leading to double technical fouls in Game 3. The Pacers held a 2-1 series lead coming into Game 4.
Indiana came out firing on all cylinders, finishing the first quarter with a commanding 38-23 lead. The Pacers shot an impressive 53.8% from the field and 60% from beyond the arc. In contrast, the Cavaliers struggled with their shooting, only managing to hit 26.7% of their field goals and 37.5% of their 3-point attempts in the first quarter.
The intense rivalry between Hunter and Mathurin added a layer of drama to an already heated playoff series. As the teams battled on the court, emotions ran high, culminating in the altercation that marred Game 4.
For more updates and coverage on sports news, stay tuned to Fox News Digital and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter. Ryan Gaydos, a senior editor for Fox News Digital, provides in-depth analysis and insights into the latest developments in the world of sports.
