Bennedict Mathurin and Cleveland’s versatile wing De’Andre Hunter had another physical round, intensifying their ongoing beef. A blistering first-quarter flare-up in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals saw tension between the Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers erupt into a physmathurinical confrontation.
Prior encounters in this series hinted at bad blood—Mathurin’s emphatic block on Hunter in Game 1 left Hunter nursing a sprained thumb, and Hunter’s stoic stare after Game 2 stoked questions of revenge.
Meanwhile, Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin landed a closed-fist blow to the midsection of Cavs forward De’Andre Hunter. Visibly incensed, Hunter shoved Mathurin to the hardwood before Pacers center Myles Turner stepped in and exchanged shoves with Hunter, earning technical fouls for both players.
The arena at Gainbridge Fieldhouse trembled as both benches emptied, and fans braced for what could have been a full-blown brawl.
Bennedict Mathurin and De’Andre Hunter’s Tussle
In the waning moments of the first quarter, Indiana held a commanding 38–23 lead when Mathurin, seeking space on an inbound play, swung his right fist into Hunter’s torso. The instant punch, deemed unnecessary by league officials, prompted an official review and the subsequent Flagrant 2 call that sent Mathurin to the locker room in disgrace.
IndyStar reported that Hunter’s retaliatory shove underscored his frustration, not just with the play at hand, but with Mathurin’s rough defense earlier in the series that had resulted in Hunter sustaining an injury as well.
On May 11, the game’s physical edge remained after the ejections and technicals, but the Pacers maintained their composure on the scoreboard. Indiana’s hot shooting sustained a 15-point lead in the opening frame, although Cleveland would fight back in spurts.
Tension between Mathurin and Hunter was not born in Indianapolis. In Game 1 of the series, Mathurin’s ferocious block on Hunter’s finger-roll attempt resulted in a sprained right thumb that sidelined Hunter in Game 2.
Hunter, known for his stoic defense, responded with pointed finger-wagging during Game 2’s closing sequence, drawing the ire of Mathurin and hinting at unresolved misgivings.
Despite losing their sparkplug, the Pacers channeled adrenaline into execution. Tyrese Haliburton seized control of the offense, orchestrating a comeback from 11 points down in 22 minutes till the third quarter.
By the end of the third quarter (May 11), the Pacers are at 109 while the Cavs are staggering at 77. The Cavs have a huge margin to cover by the end of the final quarter to turn the tide in their favor. Darius Garland has added 21 points so far, and the Cavaliers now heavily rely on him to bag the win.
Impact on the Series: A Turning Point?
Game 5 is set for Wednesday night back in Cleveland, where the Cavaliers must balance physical play with disciplined execution to avoid further suspensions or ejections.
The Pacers, buoyed by home-court advantage and the emotional high of their comeback, aim to close out the series and advance to their second straight Conference Finals.
Both teams will need to manage their tempers as much as their minutes, or risk letting future altercations overshadow the basketball that brought them this far.