Pacers-Guard Mathurin flies according to fist. Despite the scandal and the following pack formation, Pacers lead 3: 1 in the series against the Cavaliers.
In the fourth game of the series between the Indiana Pacers and the Cleveland Cavaliers there was already a heated incident in the first quarter.
Pacers-Guard Bennedict Mathurin was expelled after a flagrant foul 2 of the field. The reason: Mathurin hit the abdomen with the closed Faust Cavs-Forward de’andre Hunter while the Pacers threw the ball.
Wild NBA chaos after deep blow
Hunter reacted to the action by pushed Mathurin to the ground, which brought him a technical foul. Pacers-Center Myles Turner also let himself be carried away to a reaction and pushed Hunter, which also brought him a technical foul.
After an official review, however, Mathurin was punished harder because he had triggered the argument with his blow against Hunter.
Cavaliers are angry with Pacers star again
Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson had already pointed out a tough foul by Mathurin after game 1 of the series. At that time, Mathurin blocked a Hunter layup on the basket, which led to a sprain of Hunter’s right thumb and put him out of action for game 2. “It was an excessive foul,” remarked Atkinson.
Despite Mathurin’s early disqualification, the Pacers managed to build a 38:23 lead against the Cavaliers with a strong first quarter. Mathurin himself only had a minute playing time and stayed without points.