In his first career game against the only Canadian team in the NBA, Quebecer Bennedict Mathurin was able to savor the victory, he who helped the Indiana Pacers win 118 to 104 on Saturday at Gainbridge Field house.
• Read also: Mathurin ineffective, but Pacers win
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The Montreal native wasn’t his team’s most productive player, but he still managed 15 points in 30 minutes of play, converting four of his 10 shots, including three of his four from downtown, as well as four of his six free throws. He also added eight rebounds and three assists.
Instead, it was Buddy Hield and Myles Turner, with 22 and 19 points respectively, who led the crowd favorites’ attack. The second completed his double-double, with 10 rebounds.
The hosts were most dominant in the fourth quarter, scoring 36 points to just 14 for the Raptors. The Queen City team had earlier distanced themselves from their rivals with a second commitment of 39 points.
They also had to manage without Pascal Siakam, injured, or Fred VanVleet, bored by a virus. It was therefore OG Anunoby who took the reins of the attack, with 26 points.
Used for 28 min 12 s, Quebecer Chris Boucher was also called upon, with 19 points and seven rebounds. It was much more difficult for the young Scottie Barnes, whose efficiency rate of 25% did not help his cause.
This is what changed the game in the game: the Pacers made one out of two throws during the duel, while the Raptors were not able to succeed more than 60% of their attempts.
Head coach Nick Nurse’s men will head to Detroit shortly to face the Pistons on Monday.
