Pacers lose at Clippers behind efficient Bennedict Mathurin in first game vs former team
LOS ANGELES — Kawhi Leonard scored 29 factors and Bennedict Mathurin had 23 in his first game towards his outdated team to guide the Clippers to a 130-107 win over the Pacers on Wednesday night time at Intuit Dome.
The Pacers fell to 15-47 with their seventh straight loss and sit alone in final place in the Eastern Conference. The Clippers improved to 30-31 and are in ninth in the West, one again of the Warriors for eighth.
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Brook Lopez added 17 factors for the Clippers. Darius Garland and Derrick Jones had 12 every. All-Star ahead Pascal Siakam scored xx factors to guide the Pacers. Center Jay Huff added 18 factors. Forward Jarace Walker had 17.
Here are three observations.
Bennedict Mathurin goes for 23 in first game towards outdated team
Bennedict Mathurin was clearly motivated in his first game towards the Pacers since he was traded to Los Angeles on Feb. 5 for the deal that introduced Ivica Zubac to the Pacers. His efficiency not solely confirmed off his aggression in attending to the rim off the dribble, but in addition a number of the off-ball work and passing that he dramatically improved in his time with the Pacers. He was each bit the efficient participant Rick Carlisle spent years making an attempt to construct.
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Mathurin scored 23 factors on 8 of 11 capturing, hitting his final 3-pointer after lacking his first two. He hit two pull-up jumpers simply outdoors the paint together with the three however every thing else was in the lane and a lot of the buckets have been across the rim. He had one dunk in which he threw numerous his arm on the rim and one other on which he beat Aaron Nesmith on a backcut. He additionally made sharp reads as a passer with 4 assists and grabbed eight rebounds. The Clippers have been +32 in their 22 minutes on the ground.
In addition, heart Isaiah Jackson — who had appeared in simply three video games with the Clippers for the reason that commerce — needed to play intensive minutes because of an damage to Yanic Konan Niederhauser. Jackson completed with 10 factors on 4 of 6 capturing to go along with 4 rebounds and three blocks.
Pascal Siakam scores 29 in return from damage
Pacers All-Star ahead Pascal Siakam performed in his first game since struggling a left wrist sprain on Feb. 22, and he was proper again to All-Star caliber scoring.
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The four-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA decide was by far the Pacers’ best offensive weapon as standard, sliding into the paint for attractiveness at the rim and in the mid-range. He scored 29 factors on 8 of 14 capturing together with 1 of three from 3-point vary and was significantly efficient at the road the place he is generally struggled. I made 12 of 14 foul pictures.
Siakam additionally completed with 5 rebounds and one help.
Kawhi Leonard dominant in blowout
One of the massive upsides for Bennedict Mathurin in the commerce to Clippers is his alternative to work with an all-time nice perimeter scorer in Kawhi Leonard, and Leonard very a lot seemed at the half on Wednesday.
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Leonard scored 12 factors on 5 of 8 capturing together with 2 of three from 3-point vary in the first quarter alone, setting off a Clippers offense that scored 42 first-quarter factors together with a exceptional 30 in the paint. The Clippers dialed it down some and allowed the Pacers to chop a 20-point deficit down to 6 factors in the third quarter, however Leonard continued to make pictures to make it not possible for the Pacers to come back again. He scored 9 factors in a 3rd quarter that the Clippers gained 39-26, which included a 29-5 run at one level that turned the six-point deficit to a 30-point deficit.
Leonard completed with 29 factors on 10 of 18 capturing together with 3 of seven from 3-point vary to go along with eight rebounds two assists and a steal.
Dustin Dopirak covers the Pacers all season. Get extra protection on IndyStarTV and with the Pacers Insider newsletter.
This article initially appeared on Indianapolis Star: Pacers vs Clippers score today, Bennedict Mathurin game stats vs old team
