4 days Ago
Although the Indiana Pacers fell to 6-8 after losing 130-119 to the Toronto Raptors on Monday night, the double-digit defeat showcased Bennedict Mathurin's timely offense. While Tyrese Haliburton continues to struggle from the court, pushing the Pacers into holes on offense, Mathurin seized his opportunity to score when it matters most: in the fourth quarter. © Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Mathurin ignited the fourth quarter vs.
the Raptors with a 6-0 run, cutting the Pacers' deficit 106-99. After the Raptors responded with a 5-0 run, Mathurin put his foot on the pedal with as much force as a Nascar racer. Mathurin left it all on the court, exploding for 17 fourth-quarter points as he desperately clawed into the Raptors lead.
However, injuries decimated the Pacers' rotation, leading to horrendous interior defense. Mathurin's fourth-quarter efforts couldn't outlast the Raptors, but his heroics didn't occur in vain, as he stepped up while Haliburton struggled to score. Scoring is nothing new for the Pacers wing.
Mathurin showcased his knack for putting the ball in the hoop early in his career, as he earned Sixth Man of the Year award votes in his rookie season. Stepping up to the plate and enhancing his role every season, Mathurin is prime to become a legitimate star for the Pacers. While such an explosive fourth-quarter performance would make most play prisoner of the moment, scoring in the most pressurized period comes naturally for Mathurin.
According to Stat Muse , the Pacers' wing ranks eighth in scoring during the final period (not including Monday's 17 fourth-quarter points) with 7.9 points per game. Related: How Did Pacers Lose to Short-Handed Raptors? The Pacers have an injury dilemma, but Mathurin's leadership in taking over during the game's precious moments somewhat alleviates the lack of bodies.
If the Pacers wish to continue to have a fighter's chance in the Eastern Conference, more Mathurin-involved sequences must occur..
