Bennedict Mathurin's Strong Performance with Clippers Raises Questions About Pacers' Trade Decision Bennedict Mathurin has quickly become a key contributor for the Los Angeles Clippers since being traded from the Indiana Pacers. His ability to create scoring opportunities and his efficiency in limited minutes have highlighted his value as a bench player, prompting the Pacers to reconsider their decision to part with him. In 13 games with the Clippers, including one start, the Arizona native has averaged 19.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.2 steals while shooting 42.2% from the field. Despite struggling from beyond the arc—hitting just 21.3% of his three-point attempts—he has shown flashes of his potential, including four made shots in his last nine attempts from long range. Mathurin’s scoring has been consistent, with him reaching double figures in 12 of his 13 games and scoring 20 or more points in four of his last five contests. His impact is further underscored by his performance on the bench, where he leads all NBA players in total bench points since the trade deadline, accumulating 238 points. This places him ahead of Payton Pritchard, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, who trails with 206 points. Mathurin’s ability to step in and deliver when needed has made him a critical asset for the Clippers, especially in high-pressure moments. The Pacers’ decision to trade Mathurin as part of the Ivica Zubac deal has sparked debate. While the trade was seen as a logical move given Mathurin’s questionable fit with Indiana—particularly his ball-stopping tendencies and uncertain long-term role—the team is now facing the consequences of losing a player who has thrived elsewhere.#indiana_pacers #los_angeles_clippers #payton_pritchard #bennedict_mathurin #ivica_zubac
Jayson Tatum will miss Celtics game against Thunder The Boston Celtics announced that Jayson Tatum will not play in Thursday night’s matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, citing ongoing management of a right Achilles injury. This marks the first game Tatum has missed since his return to the lineup against the Dallas Mavericks on Friday. The injury has limited his playing time this season, and he has only appeared in three games since coming back, logging exactly 27 minutes total. Tatum has averaged 19.7 points per game in his recent appearances but is shooting at a 39.3% field goal rate and just 29% from beyond the arc. While he has shown flashes of scoring ability, his jump shot and vertical leap have not yet returned to form. He has also struggled with rebounding, recording fewer boards than the 12 he grabbed in his return game. Additionally, Tatum has yet to record a blocked shot this season, indicating lingering issues with his overall physicality. The Celtics’ injury report for the Thunder game includes several key updates. Payton Pritchard, who missed Tuesday’s game due to neck spasms, is expected to return. Derrick White, who scored a game-high 34 points against the Spurs, is listed as questionable with a right knee contusion. Meanwhile, Tatum remains sidelined, and Nikola Vucevic is out with a fractured right ring finger. The Celtics’ performance since Tatum’s return has been mixed. They have won two of their last three games, defeating the Mavericks and Cavaliers by double digits, but fell to the Spurs by nine points after Jaylen Brown was ejected in the first half. The team’s record stands at 43-22, placing them second in the Eastern Conference and fourth in the league overall.#boston_celtics #jayson_tatum #oklahoma_city_thunder #payton_pritchard #derrick_white
