On Thursday night (March 20) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, fans got it all — controversy, ejections, and a dramatic finish. When the dust settled, the Indiana Pacers pulled off a 105-99 overtime win against the Brooklyn Nets, but not before tempers flared and fists nearly flew.
Chaos Erupts As Trendon Watford and Myles Turner Clash
With 4:48 left in the fourth quarter, Indiana trailed Brooklyn 84-79 when Bennedict Mathurin made a layup. As the Nets called a timeout, Trendon Watford let his emotions get the best of him, shoving Andrew Nembhard with a forearm.
Pacers big man Myles Turner wasn’t about to let it slide. Charging to Nembhard’s defense, Turner got in Watford’s face, and suddenly, the court erupted. Players from both sides rushed in, voices were raised and tensions boiled over. The scuffle spilled onto the sideline, right across from Brooklyn’s bench, before officials and coaches restored order.
Courtside view of the Pacers vs Nets fight.
Myles Turner, Obi Toppin, Andrew Nembhard going at it with the Nets players. pic.twitter.com/FjhqOLGlcw
— JD, J.D. (@JoshDhani) March 21, 2025
Watford, who had 15 points at that point, was hit with two technical fouls and ejected. Turner and Nembhard each received a technical foul, but no free throws were taken.
That wasn’t the end of the drama. Less than a minute into overtime, Nembhard was whistled for a foul. Upset with the call, he turned to referee Tony Brothers to vent his frustration — a costly mistake. Brothers immediately hit Nembhard with a technical foul — his second of the game — leading to his ejection.
Nembhard, who had been Indiana’s hero in the team’s previous win over Dallas, exited with nine points and watched the rest from the locker room.
Bennedict Mathurin’s Brilliance and Turner’s Clutch Play Fuel Indiana Pacers’ Comeback
Despite the tension, the Pacers didn’t back down. Mathurin stepped up when it mattered most, leading the charge with a huge performance. The young star scored 28 points and grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds, powering Indiana to its third straight win.
Turner, back after missing 13 games with an injury, also came up big late. With 14 seconds left in regulation, Mathurin was fouled on a 3-point attempt by Brooklyn’s Keon Johnson. Mathurin calmly knocked down all three free throws to tie the game at 91 and force overtime.
The Pacers held strong, and in the closing moments of OT, Turner made the play of the night — a clutch block that helped seal the 105-99 win. He finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds, making an impact on both ends.
Brooklyn got strong efforts from D’Angelo Russell and Ziaire Williams, who each scored 22 points, but it wasn’t enough. The Nets came looking for a fight — they got one, and they lost.