INDIANAPOLIS – Bennedict Mathurin, guard for the Indiana Pacers, was ejected in the first quarter of Game 4 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The decision was made after he was assessed a flagrant 2 foul for extending his closed fist towards the abdomen of Cavs forward De’Andre Hunter.
Hunter was assessed a technical foul for shoving Mathurin to the ground in response, which led to Pacers center Myles Turner shoving Hunter, resulting in a technical foul for Turner.
Following an official review, Mathurin received a more severe penalty for initiating the incident with his hit on Hunter to create space while the Pacers were putting the ball in play. Hunter began pointing his finger as he approached Mathurin on the court and then shoved him in the chest.
Mathurin only played one minute and did not score.
Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson had taken note of what he called a flagrant foul in Game 1 of the series, when Mathurin’s block on Hunter’s layup at the rim resulted in a sprained right thumb for Hunter, keeping him out of Game 2.
The Pacers built a 38-23 lead in the first quarter.
