The Indiana Pacers lost Game 5 of the conference finals against the New York Knicks and will look to close the series out on Saturday. Despite the loss, there was one major silver lining for Indiana, and it was the resurgence of Bennedict Mathurin.
Mathurin has struggled for most of the playoffs, and especially so in the Knicks series. Through the first three games, he averaged 3.7 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1 assist while shooting 25% from the field. Additionally, he played 10 or fewer minutes in two of those games. However, fortunately for him and the team, Mathurin has turned it back around in the last two games, and he looked great in Game 5.
The Canadian native has scored at least 20 points in a combined 37 minutes in each of his last two games, and it seems like he has found his shot again. If the Pacers continue to feature him prominently the rest of the way, it could help them expose the Knicks' defense.
Bennedict Mathurin remains an important part of Indiana's success
In Game 5, Mathurin scored a team-high 23 points while shooting 6-for-10 from the field and 2-for-4 from the three-point line. Additionally, he grabbed nine rebounds. He was just one of three Pacers to score double-digit points in the loss, and he was the only one to score more than 20.
Despite his shortcomings for most of the run, Mathurin is still valuable to the Pacers, and it showed in the last couple of games. Mathurin is one of the most important bench pieces the Pacers have, mostly because of the bench scoring he provides. He is a bit streaky, but when he is hot, he has the ability to change the momentum and take over the game.
Now that he has seemingly turned things around, it will be interesting to see how the Pacers utilize Mathurin more. Despite his slow start to the series, he has a track record against the Knicks that bodes well for his and the team's success. Furthermore, now that it seems like he is turning it around, this is the perfect time to give him some more opportunities.
The Pacers are just one win away from the NBA Finals, but the series is far from over. They must continue to feature the 22-year-old since he is a key part of their success. With Saturday's game being one of the most important ones in the Pacers' history, Mathurin remains one of the top names to keep an eye on for the team.