The Indiana Pacers saw Bennedict Mathurin light it up multiple times firsthand throughout his four-season tenure with the team. They know exactly what he can do and how quickly he can get hot from the field. And now, the Los Angeles Clippers are getting to see it as well.
In a 115-114 victory against the Denver Nuggets on Thursday, the former Pacers wing scored a game-high 38 points on 12-for-22 shooting in 34 minutes. He also recorded five rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
Mathurin showed out in a big way in his first home game as a Clipper, and as Pacers fans already knew, the sky is the limit for him. He is a fantastic iso scorer and is developing into a well-rounded team player. And with a change of scenery and a better opportunity to run wild, there's no telling what the future will hold in store for him.
Bennedict Mathurin has played great since joining the Clippers
In three games with the Clippers, Mathurin has averaged 21 points, 5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 3 steals while shooting 42.2% from the field. It's a small sample size, but the Pacers know this isn't unusual for the Arizona alum, and it's very similar to how he was playing earlier in the season before his injuries.
I'm not saying the Pacers are going to regret trading Mathurin to Los Angeles for Ivica Zubac. The fact remains that he may not have been a good long-term fit in their system, and it would have been tough to justify paying him at least $20 million a year, especially if he was just going to be a sixth man. Plus, Zubac is a legitimate upgrade at center and will be a huge help in just about every area of the game.
However, I had long advocated for Indiana to keep him around anyway (though this was when it seemed like acquiring Zubac was more of a pipe dream), and it's not hard to see why. He is incredibly talented, and I still think the Pacers are going to significantly miss his iso scoring and shot-creation, especially next season as Tyrese Haliburton eases back into it.
Once it's all said and done, there's a real chance this trade turns into a win-win where everybody involved is happy with the outcome. But so far, Mathurin is looking really, really good for the Clippers, and at this rate, he's going to be a real contributor for them for years to come.