Friday, February 16 2024. 23:10
Bennedict Mathurin wasn’t going to let another young NBA star steal the spotlight at home.
The Quebecer was named the MVP of the NBA Rising Stars mini tournament, helping his team to be crowned champions.
In the final, the young star of the Indiana Pacers scored four points and the Jalen team defeated the Detlef team 26 to 13. The first team to record 25 points was offered the trophy. Jalen Williams put the finishing touches on the night with a basket from downtown.
Once the Champions Trophy was awarded, the crowd gathered in Indianapolis for the All-Star Game festivities rejoiced once again when Mathurin was named the player by excellence of the competition.
“All I had in mind was to play with intensity, I wanted to help my team win and bring home the MVP title,†said the hero. ros of the evening at the microphone TNT after the final.
His Pacers teammate Tyrese Haliburton said on the microphone during the broadcast of the matches at TNT that the Quebecer reminded him of Jordan Clarkson in his way of playing.
“I feel like Clarkson could make tough baskets and that’s what Mathurin does too. He is also intense on both ends of the court,” added Haliburton, who is having a thunderous season with an average of 21.8 points per game.
Mathurin proved his teammate right a few moments later with a spectacular play. During a breakthrough to the basket, the Pacers player completed a full pivot in the air before throwing it behind his back to Walker Kessler who easily completed with the basket .
Earlier in the evening, the Quebecer provided victory for Team Jalen in the first match of the tournament bringing together the rising stars.
Mathurin allowed his team to erase a slow start to the match, trailing 11 to 2, to win 40 to 35 in front of the Tamika team. The first team to reach the 40-point mark advanced to the final.
The Quebecer recorded 18 points in the victory. He had the chance to end the game following a drive to the basket that resulted in a foul, so he had two free throws to make to advance the lead. Team Jalen.
Mathurin, however, missed his two attempts, but on his team’s next possession, he recorded a basket with a difficult throw to start the celebrations with a little dance in front of his fans. He attempted a breakthrough with a powerful dunk during the match, but missed the final.
In 52 games this season, the Quebecer has averaged 14.1 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.
During the second match of the evening, the Detlef team caused a certain surprise by defeating the Pau team 41 to 36 in which we found Victor Wembanyama.
The San Antonio Spurs rookie scored 11 points and still grabbed seven rebounds, in addition to providing two blocks, but Matas Buzelis put an end to this meeting. Mac McClung was the most productive on his team with 12 points, just one more than his teammate for the evening Alondes Williams.
2024-02-17 03:07:11
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