Tensions Explode: Bennedict Mathurin’s Shocking Ejection Sparks Chaos in Pacers-Cavaliers Game 4 Showdown

The tension was thick at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday night, and not just because of the playoff stakes. Indiana Pacers’ guard Bennedict Mathurin didn’t wait long to stir the pot in Game 4 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, drawing a first-quarter ejection after a heated clash with De’Andre Hunter. What started as a chest bump quickly spiraled into a full-on scrum, with Mathurin’s provocative move leading to Hunter shoving him hard to the floor — a sequence that sparked an intense officials’ review and resulted in a Flagrant 2 on Mathurin, while Hunter escaped with only a technical. Even with their firestarter gone, the Pacers didn’t miss a beat, surging ahead behind stifling defense and sharp shooting to establish a commanding early lead. As they try to hold their 2-1 series advantage and punch their ticket to a second consecutive Eastern Conference finals, this incident might just be the spark they needed… or a warning sign of more drama to come. LEARN MORE

Despite losing Mathurin, the Pacers didn’t slow down in the first period. They jumped to a 38-23 lead after the opening period, thanks in part to an incredible defensive stand late when they held Cleveland without a field goal for more than five minutes. The Pacers went 6 of 10 from the 3-point line in the first 12 minutes and held the Cavaliers to just 4-of-15 shooting.The Pacers held a 2-1 series lead entering Sunday’s game. They are trying to make it back to their second straight Eastern Conference finals.Advertisement

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Mathurin immediately walked backward toward the 3-point line, and Hunter followed. While Mathurin appeared to taunt Hunter a bit with his arms outstretched, Hunter shoved Mathurin hard in the chest and knocked him to the court. That sparked a pretty big altercation and a long review from the officials after things settled.Eventually, Mathurin was hit with a Flagrant 2 foul and was ejected. Hunter, though his shove was far worse than Mathurin’s initial action, was hit with only a technical foul for his retaliatory action. Myles Turner was also assessed a technical foul.