Bennedict Mathurin has once again proven that he likes the biggest stages. The Pacers rookie scored a career-high 32 points to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 125-116 win over the Nets in Brooklyn on Saturday night.
Mathurin was particularly smoldering from the three-point line, where he hit six of his nine attempts. He was also perfect from the free throw line making all ten shots.
The 32 points scored by Mathurin represent a high for an NBA rookie this season. It is also a record for the number of points scored by a Canadian player who started the game as a substitute.
The rookie led his team in scoring, adding five rebounds and two assists in the win. Tyrese Haliburton also stood out with 26 points, while Isaiah Jackson took advantage of a rare start to score a brace of 18 points and ten rebounds.
The Pacers thus signed a third victory in seven games, while the Nets already lost a fifth game in six outings.
The Pacers led 63-62 at the half, and the third quarter was also very close (29-28 Indiana).
The Pacers stayed in control after a 7-0 streak gave them a 105-95 lead, with 8:32 on the clock.
In hot water after posting a tweet deemed anti-Semitic by Nets owner Joe Tsai, Kyrie Irving participated in the game and he led his team with a harvest of 35 points.
Kevin Durant also did well with 26 points, but the Nets clearly lack offensive support from other elements of their roster. No Brooklyn player managed to cross the 11-point plateau during the game.
The two clubs will meet again Monday night in Brooklyn.
Elsewhere in the NBA:
Heat 113 – Spurs 119
MIA: Miami came close to completing a comeback after dominating the second half 64-48. Tyler Herro got 34 points
SA: Kevin Huerter had 27 points as the Kings ended a 4-game losing streak
Warriors 113 – Hornets 120 (prolongation)
GS: 31 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists for Stephen Curry
CHA: 31 points, 7 rebounds and 1 assist for PJ Washington
Sixers 114 – Bulls 109
PHI: Joel Embiid had 25 points and a tie-breaking 3-pointer with 18 seconds left
CHI: DeMar DeRozan and Nicola Vucevic produced 24 and 23 points respectively
Hawks 115 – Bucks 123
ATL: 42 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists for Trae Young
MIL: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday picked up 34 points each in the win
Thunder 117 – Mavericks 111
OKC: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was dominant with 38 points, six rebounds and nine assists. Luguentz Dort scored 16 points
DAL: Luka Doncic scored a monstrous double of 31 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists.
Grizzlies 123 – Jazz 124
MEM: 32 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists for Desmond Bane.
UTA: Lauri Markkanen and Kelly Olynyk picked up 23 points each in the win.
