Bennedict Mathurin is quietly becoming a bit of a "New York Knicks killer," and that bodes well for the Indiana Pacers ahead of their conference finals matchup.
The Pacers are back in the conference finals for the second year in a row. They made an appearance last year, but they ultimately got swept by the eventual champion Boston Celtics. This time around, they will have an opportunity to right their wrongs against the Knicks, one of their biggest rivals in franchise history. In order to do so, they will rely heavily on their top players who got them this far in the first place. However, they should also utilize Mathurin often as his track record against the Knicks is undeniable.
Bennedict Mathurin loves playing against the Knicks
This series will be crucial for Mathurin's Pacers career in the long run. However, fortunately for him, he has a lot going well for him, given who he is going up against.
While the Knicks will focus their attention on Pacers players like Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, and Myles Turner, they also need to keep an eye on Mathurin. In three games against New York this season, the Canadian native averaged 25.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while shooting 61% from the field and 52.6% from beyond the arc. This includes a fantastic 38-point performance in November, when he shot 13-for-18 from the field and 7-for-9 from the three-point line.
In two of his three games against the Knicks, Mathurin came off the bench, where he has excelled for much of the season. Mathurin is a fantastic bench scorer for Indiana, and he should have a great opportunity to further prove that in the conference finals.
The Pacers will need to bring their A-game to send the Knicks home for the second year in a row and advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in over two decades. This includes Mathurin, who could play a big role in the series.
If the Arizona alum can continue his hot streak against the Knicks, the Pacers will be in a great spot. Mathurin provides a lot of value on the court, especially on the offensive side of the ball, and this has the makings of being a big series for him. Whether he will be able to rise to the occasion or not remains to be seen. Regardless, Mathurin's performances against the Knicks this season speak for themselves, and it could be an indication of what sends them home early once again.